There has been a lot of talk about the feasibility of solar power (more specifically, solar panels) in providing a consistent source of energy, especially in the domestic sphere. The number of people adopting solar as their primary source of energy is growing — but it's growing slowly.
Even though switching to solar energy is becoming less expensive, the often-daunting amount of effort to understand the energy system and install it in an efficient way still inhibits potential adopters. Google's Project Sunroof is trying to change that.
The team has created an algorithm that can help you figure out how much solar energy you can produce at your specific location, what the costs would look like, how much money you could save, and whom you should contact to start the installation process.
The technology Project Sunroof uses has already existed at Google for some time. The aerial imagery and maps borrow directly from Google Maps, in addition to accommodating factors like shadows cast by nearby structures, cloud and temperature patterns, and the sun's position at all times of the year. The program also goes so far as to calculate federal and state tax credits, utility rebates, renewable energy credits and net metering.
The goal here is to facilitate the installment process for first-time solar energy users — from the initial calculation of long-term costs and savings to help with contacting appropriate solar panel providers.
The system is launching first in three regions across the United States: the San Francisco Bay Area, Fresno in central California, and Boston, where the Project Sunroof team is based.
