States are getting on the green act. For years, homeowners have faced restrictions from their local governments that prevent them from making their homes more eco-friendly. Since the year 2005, eight states have changed laws to remove barriers to building eco-friendly homes.

Some new laws say homeowners groups can’t ban such technology. Others say local governments can’t enforce rules that significantly raise the cost of installing eco-friendly energy systems.

“If you’re going to have local governments and condo associations saying, ‘Solar panels are ugly,’ that’s a real stumbling block,” says state Democratic Rep. Karen May, a sponsor of a “solar rights bill” pending in Illinois.

No one is keeping official stats, but reports indicate that more people are trying to install eco-friendly improvements, and are running into snags from the usual places.

Now states are hustling to change the rules, because they are under federally imposed guidelines to upgrade a percentage of residences to greener setups.