Deciding how much you can save on projects if you opt for solar energy is getting easier and easier. Primarily aimed at homeowners and single-family residential developers, but also useful for commercial properties, a team of Google engineers launched a new tool that can help the doubtful better understand if they will be able to bring big savings if they convert to solar energy.
Titled Project Sunroof, the tool offers high-resolution aerial maps, like the one used in Google Earth, to estimate the total sunlight a rooftop receives throughout the year, CityLab reports.
Users can then learn how much they can expect to save with solar panels, and even evaluate different financing plans.
One such application already on the market is the MIT-born MapDwell, which launched two years ago. Architizer reports that MapDwell has announced the expansion of the service into New York City’s Five Boroughs.
“This tremendous project covers over one million buildings and reveals enough high-yield photovoltaic potential to deliver over five million megawatt-hours of energy per year,” Architizer reports.
Related Stories
K-12 Schools | Jan 24, 2018
Hawaii’s first net-zero public school
G70 is the architect, planner, and civil engineer of record for the project.
Energy | Jan 12, 2018
Putting wastewater to work: America’s next great energy source
As much as 40 to 50% of a building’s energy literally goes down the drain every day.
Energy | Jan 11, 2018
Harvesting energy and profits: A new approach to MEP cost analysis
In the course of providing cost estimating services, educating the client on making prudent choices is a high priority.
Energy Efficiency | Dec 19, 2017
New building energy quotient portal gives quick analysis on energy performance
ASHRAE tool provides more automated approach to receive Building EQ Performance Score.
K-12 Schools | Oct 28, 2017
A new elementary school in Cambridge, Mass., aims at being a pilot for that city’s NZE commitment
The building’s programming will provide more access to the community at large.
Codes and Standards | Oct 23, 2017
Energy efficiency investments on the rise; will increase next year
Survey of facility management executives shows onsite renewables, energy storage will spike in 2018.
Energy Efficiency | Sep 15, 2017
To reach ambitious energy targets, firms must dig deeper
The number of firms involved in AIA’s voluntary pact to slash energy consumption in buildings grew to more than 400 in July.
Green | Jul 18, 2017
Garden of the Four Seasons lets you experience all four seasons at once
Carlo Ratti Associati designed the garden with an innovative net-zero energy climate control system.
Sustainability | Jun 28, 2017
Mohawk College will have one of the region’s first net-zero energy institutional buildings
The project’s net-zero goals led to the development of a new curtain wall system.
Game Changers | Jan 18, 2017
Turning friction into power
Research on piezoelectricity moves closer to practical applications for infrastructure and buildings.