Philadelphia-based architect Sam Gordon designed his house in High Bar Harbor 15 years ago to achieve net zero energy consumption. A key part of that objective is a rooftop solar panel system. Gordon had his panels replaced last week for the first time since 2010 and intends to donate the used (but still usable) panels to a charity.

The decommissioning was a first for him, as it is or will be for others who bought into the technology early.