One couple's attempt to go green in Lunenburg has hit a bump — and not the architectural feature so common in the town.

Charlie Farquharson and his partner Annique Bilodeau want to install a solar panel on the roof of their 110-year-old home on Lawrence Street, in the heart of the town's historic district, but were told it would contravene town bylaws.

"It's the only economically viable reduction in greenhouse gases. It's a reasonably inexpensive installation with an instantaneous payback," Farquharson said Thursday.

But the couple was denied a building permit under Lunenburg's heritage conservation bylaw —which bans the installation of electrical structures on the front facades of buildings.

Farquharson said they are putting new black asphalt shingles on the roof, and the solar panels would be black.

"So, they should blend as closely as I can get them. It's no different than putting a skylights up there, which I'm allowed to do," he said.

Lunenburg's heritage conservation bylaws are designed to protect the town's unique architecture recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Kim Thompson of the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax said it's something other municipalities will have to deal with, as well.

"It's only going to become more and more critical. We're on the cusp of something really big. It's something we need to figure out quickly how we can better integrate those technologies," she said.

Lunenburg Mayor Lawrence Mawhinney said the bylaw is meant to protect the integrity of the town's architecture.

"The difficulty isn't maybe one building with one solar panel which may be even out of sight from general viewing. The problem occurs when somebody gets permission to do it on this particular spot, then the neighbours two streets over says, 'Well, I'll do that, too' and theirs may not be quite so hidden," he said.

But, he said, Lunenburg is updating its bylaws to address items like solar panels.

Farquharson and Bilodeau aren't waiting for that to happen. They have appealed the town's decision to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

"I believe that in this day and age environmental stewardship should trump architectural heritage, so long as it's done in a sensitive manner," he said.

A hearing is set for next Tuesday.