Since launching in August, Google's Project Sunroof boasts millions of customers across some of the most-active solar states, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Nevada and North Carolina.
On Thursday, Google announced that Project Sunroof is introducing an online tool this week to help homeowners decide whether they should consider installing solar panels to reduce their energy costs.
Tech Times tried out the "Check Out My Roof" online search tool Friday morning, typing in a random Massachusetts address, which returned information like 1,479 hours of usable sunlight per year and 497 square feet available for solar panels, in addition to $25,000 of estimated annual savings. (Tech Times also tried random addresses, in which the Project Sunroof service isn't currently available).
Google says the search tool uses the same high-resolution aerial mapping technology used in Google Earth. The tech juggernaut says Project Sunroof utilizes a "unique set of data that assesses how much sunlight your roof gets."
Stemming from the area searched, the "Check Out My Roof" function is able to unearth the orientation of your roof, the shade from trees and nearby buildings and local weather patterns, rolling up all of the information to produce a solar score for the rooftop's mapping.
It also allows consumers to gauge current average electricity costs, comparing them to what they'd pay with solar.
The fact that Google has made it so easy to search whether your home can be outfitted with solar paneling is fascinating enough. Then, add that it built its search function with saving money in mind and it's a double benefit for customers thinking about going solar.
Read more: Google Launches Project Sunroof
