Searching for solar panels in Rozzie

By Suzane Mrozak 

I learned about the Rozzie Solar Challenge in late July and volunteered to help count the buildings in Roslindale that already have solar.

My own street had already been inventoried, so I didn’t get to count my own solar panels myself, but I’ve had fun exploring other streets in Roslindale since the beginning of August. I took a break in the fall, but I’m getting ready to start again in January, so I took time over the holidays to think about my experiences so far and to figure out what I can do better this time around.

On the plus side, I really enjoyed walking around Roslindale and seeing things I never noticed before – funky lawn ornaments, beautiful hidden gardens, and a wide variety of political signs. I’ve been on streets that I’ve never knew existed, although I’ve lived here over 20 years. I even walked the entire length of Beech Street for the first time. I had no idea it was so long – or that it had so many houses with solar panels on it! 

I also had a memorable conversation one evening with two little girls who were busy working in their garden when I walked by with my notebook and pencil in hand. They asked me what I was doing and when I told them, they said they didn’t think they had solar panels (they didn’t) but their grandfather thinks they are a good thing.

We chatted for a while about their garden, the kinds of trees in their back yard, and the goldfinches visiting the sunflowers at the house across the street. Then the older one asked me if I was a scientist. I loved it!

On the minus side, I realized that I really should have scouted out the streets on Google Maps before I went out. Having done that after my inventory of Beech Street, I noticed that there was one house (at least) that had panels on the back side, out of view from the street. Plus I was initially not great at counting how many houses there were on the street. Short streets are easy, but I found long streets more challenging! And sometimes the view of the roof was obscured by trees.

So when I head out again, I’ll be doing some online research first, creating a checklist I can fill in (instead of writing things down on the fly), and bringing my binoculars with me!

I’m really looking forward to inventorying again. With the trees bare, some panels should be easier to see, and a big plus, every day there will be more light to see by!

I would love to hear from you about your own experiences. Any advice would be most welcome. And if anyone wants to come join me—appropriately masked and distanced, of course—please let me know! The walks I’ve enjoyed most have been the ones where I had company.