You want solar energy at home? Google tells you if you agree

Sunroof Project is a new service from Google that suggests the embryonic estimate the energy potential of each roof of a city if you want to install a photovoltaic system.

Google released a new online tool called Project Sunroof, through which you can discover the potential yield of the roof of a home for the collection of electricity in case of installation of a photovoltaic system. Sunroof will also provide an estimate of the savings obtained by installing the plant, considering the space available and the amount of light hitting the roof concerned each year.

” The cost of solar energy is at historic lows, ” writes Carl Elkin, technical manager of the project. ” A typical solar home can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year on your electricity bill. But, as a volunteer program Solarize Massachusetts Boston and owner of a solar house, I was always surprised to see that many people I meet think the its roof does not receive enough sun, or the sun is too expensive. ”

But Google concludes that ” many of them are losing the chance to save money “, as well as helping the environment by using clean energy. Switch to the solar energy can be a winning choice in many homes but, otherwise, it is possible that a certain dwelling does not receive enough sunlight according to its arrangement in space, and the position of the roof. Sunroof does just that, or to see if you should invest in a new photovoltaic system.

Clearly, Sunroof Project performs an assessment of thumb roof using the cartography of Google Maps, but it is up to the professionals then analyze the environment and verify the real performance potential of the house. The service, however, also help in the search of the company closer than you can hire the expertise and installation, which will make a quote more reliable and near real outlay to invest.

Sunroof project is still in its embryonic and available in only three areas well limited in Boston, San Francisco and Fresno. Google, however, seems to believe a lot in the project, promising new improvements and more widespread in the coming months: ” Google has always believed in the energy zero carbon emissions, and solar power is a central part of our vision, ” he concluded Elkin on the official website of the company.