(task) Google's Project Sunroof Is Growing, Reaches 20 US Metro Markets | CleanTechnica

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> http://cleantechnica.com/2016/01/08/googles-project-sunroof-growing-reaches-20-us-metro-markets/ <http://cleantechnica.com/2016/01/08/googles-project-sunroof-growing-reaches-20-us-metro-markets/>
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> Google’s Project Sunroof Is Growing, Reaches 20 US Metro Markets
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> January 8th, 2016 by Adam Johnston <http://cleantechnica.com/author/adamjohnstonwpg31/>
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> Google’s Project Sunroof <https://www.google.com/get/sunroof#p=0> is growing, as it has just reached 20 US metro markets, which will allow more homeowners to easily see if rooftop solar is right for them.
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> <http://c1cleantechnicacom.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2015/11/googleprojectsunroof.jpg>
> The giant tech company just announced it’s expanding its analytical tool from three major US cities (Boston, Fresno, and San Francisco) to 20 metropolitan areas. The solar mapping tool will be available in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Nevada, and Arizona.
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> Project Sunroof <http://cleantechnica.com/tag/Project-Sunroof/>, with help from Google maps, allows customer to see if rooftop solar can work for them. This tool <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Sunroof> takes into account shadow obstruction from nearby trees and objects, while factoring in weather patterns and historical weather data. Project Sunroof helps consumers to see how much they would save on their energy bills should they go solar. The website also provides information on local installers who can help to install solar panels for their home <http://homesolarpv.com/> (as several other sites do <http://costofsolar.com/>, but with the Google brand and some innovations).
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> If customers are also looking for a second opinion, Project Sunroof provides a link to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) PVWatts tool <http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/>, which “calculates hourly or monthly PV energy production based on minimal input,” according to the NREL website.
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> Project Sunroof and the PV Watts Tool are just part of a growing list solar mapping tools. Sungevity <http://www.sungevity.com/> uses in-house-only analytical tools that include mapping to offer customer quotes, for example.
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> Now, which other tech company will get into solar mapping next? Microsoft? Apple, perhaps? Regardless, there is plenty of room to get into this aspect of the solar energy business, as the US solar market is growing continuously <http://cleantechnica.com/2015/12/10/fourth-quarter-expected-us-solar-markets-biggest-record/>.
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> Tags: Apple <http://cleantechnica.com/tag/apple/>, Google <http://cleantechnica.com/tag/google/>, microsoft <http://cleantechnica.com/tag/microsoft/>, NREL <http://cleantechnica.com/tag/nrel/>, Project Rooftop <http://cleantechnica.com/tag/project-rooftop/>, PV Watts Tool <http://cleantechnica.com/tag/pv-watts-tool/>, Sungevity <http://cleantechnica.com/tag/sungevity/>
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> About the Author
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> <http://cleantechnica.com/author/adamjohnstonwpg31/>
> Adam Johnston <http://cleantechnica.com/author/adamjohnstonwpg31/> Is currently studying at the School of the Environment Professional Development program in Renewable Energy from the University of Toronto. Adam graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a three-year B.A. combined major in Economics and Rhetoric, Writing & Communications. Adam also writes for Solar Love and also owns his own part time tax preparation business. His eventual goal is to be a cleantech policy analyst, and is currently sharpening his skills as a renewable energy writer. You can follow him on Twitter @adamjohnstonwpg <https://twitter.com/adamjohnstonwpg> or at www.adammjohnston.wordpress.com <http://adammjohnston.wordpress.com/>.
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