Tech Made Simple

Hot Topics: How to Fix Bluetooth Pairing Problems | Complete Guide to Facebook Privacy | How to Block Spam Calls | Snapchat Symbol Meaning

We may earn commissions when you buy from links on our site. Why you can trust us.

author photo

Google's Project Sunroof Tells You Whether it Pays to Go Solar

by Fox Van Allen on August 17, 2015

With the price of solar energy installations continuing to fall, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of homeowners are installing solar panels on their roofs. According to a recent report from the Solar Energy Industry Association and GTM Research, 3 million new home rooftop solar installations are expected to take place over the next five years. That means as many as 3 million homes will cut their electric bills to next to nothing. Some of these people will even get monthly checks from their electric company for their excess generated power – not bad for going green!

But here’s the thing: Solar power isn’t right for everyone’s home. Your roof needs to be exposed to a certain amount of sunlight in a day, and you need to have ample square footage to install panels. Thankfully, the folks at Google have created Project Sunroof, a new tool that gives you all the solar energy information you need for your individual home. Just give Project Sunroof your home address, and Google will estimate the number of hours of usable sunlight per year your roof gets and the space available for panels. It then recommends the size of solar installation appropriate for your home and calculates your estimated total cost savings. In the case of my Boston-area home, Google estimates I could save $22,000 over a 20-year lease with a 6.25 kW (375 square feet) installation, with all tax credits and utility rebates included.

Project Sunroof harnesses the power of Google Maps and satellite imagery to come up with its calculations. Specifically, Google creates a 3D model of your roof, accounts for shadows for nearby buildings and trees, accounts for the various positions of the sun throughout the year and takes historic cloud cover into consideration, too. Project Sunroof also provides you with information about solar providers who operate in your area so you can arrange for installation. There’s a lot of general information about solar power available in an FAQ in case you have any questions.

For now Project Sunroof only works in three specific geographic areas: San Francisco Bay Area, CA; Fresno, CA and Greater Boston, MA. Expect Project Sunroof to expand into more areas in coming months. You can access Google’s Project Sunroof by visiting google.com/get/sunroof.

[Image credit: Google’s Project Sunroof]


Topics

Home Improvement, News, Health and Home, Blog, Money Savers, Green Tech


Discussion loading

Home | About | Meet the Team | Contact Us
Media Kit | Newsletter Sponsorships | Licensing & Permissions
Accessibility Statement
Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookie Policy

Techlicious participates in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which provide a small commission from some, but not all, of the "click-thru to buy" links contained in our articles. These click-thru links are determined after the article has been written, based on price and product availability — the commissions do not impact our choice of recommended product, nor the price you pay. When you use these links, you help support our ongoing editorial mission to provide you with the best product recommendations.

© Techlicious LLC.