September 24, 2015 | By RGR Marketing Blog

The Search Engine for Solar: Project Sunroof

Google: what will they think of next? The search giant has a long history of surprising us with new innovations, and Project Sunroof is no exception.

How did the search engine for solar energy come to be? Google engineer Carl Elkin is a big believer in solar, and he found himself surprised at how many people were still under the mistaken impression that solar energy was impractical for their homes. So, he decided to do something about it.

The Easy Way to Go Solar

Using Google’s existing Maps data, he and his team created a tool that allows homeowners to quickly figure out how well solar would work for them. It’s simple: you just plug in your address and Project Sunroof will tell you how many hours of usable sunlight your roof receives each year, the total amount of space you have to install solar panels and, based on your average monthly electricity bill, the recommended solar installation size.

We ran the numbers on San Francisco’s famous de Young Museum at 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. Project Sunroof estimated that, assuming an average monthly electricity bill of $500, this local landmark could save $86,000 over the course of a 20-year lease. The recommended solar array would be a sizable 13kW, which would cover about 98% of the museum’s electricity use.

Project Sunroof also provides financial estimates for purchasing solar arrays outright and financing them via loans. And naturally, there’s a contact form where solar prospects can enter their information and elect to receive solar estimates from local solar providers.

Project Sunroof Still in Beta, But Not for Long

Project Sunroof is only available in a few cities at the moment: San Francisco, Fresno, and Boston. But Google plans to eventually roll out the new program all over the world.

As a solar installer, you may be wondering what Google’s foray into solar means for you. Well, as you may have guessed, it costs money to be listed as one of the featured solar providers. We weren’t able to get information on the rate structure, but inquiries can be directed to projectsunroof-inquiries @ google.com.

Spreading the Good Word About Solar

All in all, Project Sunroof seems like a victory for solar energy. Google is one of the most trusted brands in the world, and their endorsement of solar energy in general, and your solar business in particular, might carry considerable weight with the average solar customer.

While there are still people out there who believe solar energy isn’t a viable option for them, as the scope of Project Sunroof grows to include more cities, that situation seems likely to change. If you're looking to get a jump on Google in your home market, why not consider buying exclusive solar leads from RGR Marketing today? We find you trusted leads from interested solar prospects so you can focus on what you do best: installing solar panels and growing your business.

[Photo Via: z]

Contact Us

Get started with free* leads.
Call us at 310-540-8900
Don’t take our word for it—find out for yourself how good our leads are and what a difference working with us can make.
Call us at 310-540-8900 or fill out the form below and we’ll tell you how you can get high quality leads for free*.
I authorize ReallyGreatRate, Inc. to communicate with me via email.
* Get up to 10% free leads on your first order!

Let's talk

Start making more money today

Mortgage

Solar

Home Improvement

  • I authorize ReallyGreatRate, Inc. to communicate with me via email.