Path-Q Solar

How should a landlord estimate solar demand when tenants change frequently?

Answer

Use normalized whole-property consumption rather than one tenant's short-term usage. Analyze multiple years if available, separate common-area and landlord loads from tenant loads, adjust for vacancy and unusual periods, and model likely occupancy and future electrification.

Key points

  • Whole-property bills are useful when tenant meters are absent, provided vacancies and shared loads are identified.
  • Compare consumption across occupied, vacant, and partially occupied periods.
  • Use weather normalization for heating and cooling where relevant.
  • Consider whether tenants pay utilities, because their behavior and incentives may differ from the owner's.

What it depends on

  • Availability and length of whole-property billing history
  • Occupancy, vacancy, and turnover records
  • Common-area and landlord-controlled loads
  • Heating, cooling, and water-heating arrangements
  • Planned renovations or electrification

Risks and trade-offs

  • A high-use tenant can make the property appear to need more solar than typical occupancy requires.
  • Frequent turnover increases uncertainty in annual demand and may affect the value of daytime production.
  • Ownership, utility-payment, and metering arrangements may affect who receives the savings; verify applicable local rules and agreements.

Information you may need

  • At least one year of whole-property bills, preferably more
  • Occupancy and vacancy history
  • Separate common-area load information
  • Heating and cooling fuel records
  • Expected changes to the property or tenant mix

Your next step

What to do next

Build normalized low, typical, and high occupancy load profiles and use them to request a design showing expected production relative to demand under each case.

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