Zero-Carbon Initiative Helps Home Owners Judge Solar Potential of Their Roofs

August 19, 2015

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August 19, 2015 – I am often asked by readers if it is worth putting solar panels on the roof of their homes. Here in Toronto solar powered houses are few and far between. But just because Toronto is in a northern country doesn’t mean solar power is not a good alternative to grid-delivered electricity.

For those looking at solar as an alternative to the way they get energy today they need to determine if their roof has sufficient solar capacity based on a number of variables. Certified solar installers can make these calculations but it involves someone coming to your home, climbing on your roof, and scrutinizing your current energy consumption. Can they miss something in their evaluation? Absolutely. It could be a newly planted neighbour’s tree that in three years will block a section of your roof from receiving direct sunlight. It could be they don’t have access to detailed weather information to determine the number of cold weather and cloud days.

Enter Project Sunroof. Currently only available in San Francisco and Fresno in California, and Boston in Massachusetts, this Google initiative provides an online tool that uses the same high-resolution images found on the application Google Earth as well as information contained in a number of databases to calculate a roof’s solar energy potential. No one calls. All you do is enter your address on the website and Project Sunroof does the rest.

The application calculates the amount of sunlight your roof receives over a year. It does this combining aerial imagery and maps, database information, 3D modeling, checking out shadows from nearby structures and trees, determining roof sun angles through the year, and reviewing the history of cloud and temperature patterns in your location. It then recommends an installation capable of generating up to 100% of your electricity needs based current electricity consumption and roof solar capacity. The application also provides up-to-date solar industry pricing plus information on leasing or buying. It calculates taxes, rebates, and net metering credits offered by your local energy company. And if requested it will connect you to reputable solar installers in your neighbourhood.

For the moment Project Sunroof is a pilot going through a shakedown test. But it soon may be coming to your city to help you make the decision to go solar or not.