Definitions.

Sec. 3. As used in this act: (a) "Common area" means a portion of a building, land, or amenities owned or managed by the homeowners' association that is generally accessible to all members of the association. Common area includes, but is not limited to, a hallway, a stairway, an elevator, a lobby, a laundry and recreational room, a playground, a community center, a garage, a public green space, a park, or a fitness room. (b) "Electric vehicle supply equipment" means a machine or other device located within this state that is supplied with electricity and designed or used for placing or delivering electricity into the battery storage system of a motor vehicle. (c) "Energy-saving improvement or modification" includes, but is not limited to, all of the following: ( i ) A clothesline. ( ii ) Air source heat pumps. ( iii ) Ground source heat pumps. ( iv ) Insulation. ( v ) Rain barrels. ( vi ) Reflective roofing. ( vii ) Energy efficient appliances. ( viii ) Solar water heaters. ( ix ) Electric vehicle supply equipment. ( x ) Energy-efficient windows. ( xi ) Energy-efficient insulation materials. (d) "Local unit of government" means a county, township, city, or village. (e) "Member" means an owner of a home or unit that is within the jurisdiction of the homeowners' association. (f) "Policy" means the written solar energy policy statement described under section 9(1). (g) "Shared roof" means a roof that serves more than 1 home or unit, including, but not limited to, a contiguous roof that serves adjacent homes or units. (h) "Solar collector" means any of the following: ( i ) An assembly, a structure, or a design, including passive elements, used for gathering, concentrating, or absorbing direct and indirect solar energy, or specially designed for holding a substantial amount of useful thermal energy, that transfers that energy to gas, solid, or liquid or uses that energy directly. ( ii ) A mechanism that absorbs solar energy and converts it into electricity. ( iii ) A mechanism or process used for gathering solar energy through wind or thermal gradients. ( iv ) A component used to transfer thermal energy to a gas, solid, or liquid or convert thermal energy into electricity. (i) "Solar energy" means radiant energy received from the sun at a wavelength that is suitable for heat transfer, photosynthetic use, or photovoltaic use. (j) "Solar energy system" means a complete assembly, structure, or design of a solar collector, or a solar storage mechanism that uses solar energy for generating electricity or heating or cooling gases, solids, liquids, or other materials. Solar energy system includes the design, materials, or elements of a solar energy system and its maintenance, operation, labor components, and the necessary components, if any, of supplemental conventional energy systems designed or constructed to interface with a solar energy system. (k) "Solar storage mechanism" means equipment or elements including, but not limited to, piping and transfer mechanisms, containers, heat exchangers, batteries, or gases, solids, or liquids, or a combination of gases, solids, and liquids, that are used for storing solar energy gathered by a solar collector for subsequent use. History: 2024, Act 68, Eff. Apr. 2, 2025