Solar Ordinance

The solar ordinance plans started early with the MED-DESIRE project where one of the work packages included developing a solar ordinance. The project was able to develop a solar ordinance in coordination with the Union of Municipalities of Tyr which was used as a guide and was not a mandatory ordinance as the UoM did not have the right to enforce it.

Based on this effort, and aiming for the enforcement of the solar ordinance, LCEC continued its work in cooperation with the Higher Council for Urban Planning (HCUP). After drafting an initial document that deals with the technical aspect of the solar ordinance, LCEC cooperated with the HCUP in order to see what would be the challenging points during the implementation and updated the ordinance accordingly.

The solar ordinance consists of the obligation of all types of buildings (new and under major renovation) to opt for solar water heaters and/or heat pumps for the production of domestic hot water. It takes into account the types of buildings, hot water consumption, occupancy, technology used and multiple other facets.

Currently the ordinance has been sent by the HCUP to relevant ministries for review, and it will be presented to the Government of Lebanon for adoption as a decree.