When it comes to solar power savings, “The proof of the pudding,” as they say, “is in the eating.” In other words, how much your neighbor saved on his electric bill because he switched to solar is immaterial. Until you can effectively calculate your own real savings, others’ success stories and your own roof’s untapped potential are just conjecture.
Until now, that is. Enter:Project Sunroof. One of the latest initiatives of Google, Project Sunroof is an attempt to answer the question: What is the world’s true potential for solar energy and solar energy savings? Not content to take a macro approach to the problem, they’re tackling the question one roof at a time.
Wait. What Are They Up To?
It’s no secret that Google is up to some pretty big things. Besides running the world’s largest search engine to the tune of 3.5 billion queries a day, the company also does a hefty amount of do-goodery: From smart contact lenses that aid in glucose detection for people with diabetes to slowing down the aging process, the company seemingly has its thumbs in some pretty well-meaning pies.
So, it makes sense that Google would also turn its attention to solar power. The cheaper solar panel installation gets, the more homeowners are intrigued by the prospect. Google’s website for Project Sunroof states that their aim is to “make installing solar panels easy and understandable for anyone.”
It’s as though the search giant is aiming to correctly answer every individual’s potential search query: “How well will solar energy work for me?”
Here’s How It Works
Utilizing Google’s expertise in mapping and data (like that common to Google Maps), homeowners simply enter their address into the Project Sunroof database. From there, Google performs a roof analysis that takes into account shading, the amount of sunny days your roof enjoys each year, equipment possibilities and the like.
The result is a remarkably personalized analysis of the savings you could expect were you to install solar panels on your home. From there, Google makes referrals to solar providers in your area. Once the project takes off, it plans to get a referral fee from those providers.
There is a catch, however. For now, Project Sunroof is only available to homeowners in the San Francisco Bay Area, metro Boston and Fresno, California. When its services will be available to other parts of the country and world is not yet clear.
The Skinny
As climate change continues to threaten the globe in both predictable and unpredictable ways, the promise of solar power energy has never seemed more timely. Solar energy technology and its use will most likely continue to decrease in cost and increase in popularity. That reality spells hope—not just in terms of energy savings for individuals—but in addressing the many threats posed by climate change.
That a company like Google has thrown its hat into the solar energy ring with Project Sunroof is definitely cause for optimism in terms of solar eventually becoming more widely adapted by homeowners across the country.
If you’d like to find out how installing solar panels on your roof can help you drive your electric bill down to zero, contact us today for a free quote.