Google has unveiled Project Sunroof, a new online tool that allows users to look up their address and find out the potential benefits of installing a solar system on their home.

Currently, its only available in three cities - San Francisco Bay Area, Fresno, CA and Greater Boston, MA - but it is expected to roll out to more cities in the near future.

After you enter your address, Project Sunroof computes how much sunlight hits your roof in a year. It takes into account:

• Google's database of aerial imagery and maps
• 3D modeling of your roof
• Shadows cast by nearby structures and trees
• All possible sun positions over the course of a year
• Historical cloud and temperature patterns that might affect solar energy production

It than uses current solar industry pricing data to run the numbers on leasing, taking a loan, or buying solar panels for your house to help you choose what's best for you.

Project Sunroof also compiles the following incentives to calculate your final cost:

• Federal and state tax credits
• Utility rebates
• Renewable energy credits and net metering

“Google has always been a big believer in zero-carbon energy, and solar power has been a central part of that vision -- from accelerating the growth of rooftop solar, to helping finance the largest solar farm in Africa, to building one of America’s biggest campus solar arrays here in Mountain View. While Project Sunroof is in a pilot phase for now, during the coming months we’ll be exploring how to make the tool better and more widely available. If you find that your address isn’t covered by the tool yet, you can leave your email address and we’ll let you know when Project Sunroof is ready for your rooftop,” said Google in their announcement.

More info at: https://www.google.com/get/sunroof#p=0

Or watch a video about it here: https://youtu.be/_BXf_h8tEes