A new online tool can tell how sunny the Denver region is — rooftop by rooftop.
The Denver Regional Solar Map enables anyone to plug in an address and find out the estimated solar potential of that building.
The map — created by the the Denver Regional Council of Governments — can be found at .
The calculator gives a satellite view of a property, the total amount of electricity that a rooftop solar system could produce and the estimated annual savings on traditional electric bills.
While the project was originally intended to include information on only about 2,000 commercial properties, DRCOG was able to expand the study to include estimates for nearly 800,000 residential and commercial properties throughout the Denver metro area — including the vast majority of single-family homes.
The solar map was developed through a $180,000 federal grant through the Governor’s Energy Office and uses aerial photography, laser measurements and property records to figure out the size and solar capacity of individual rooftops.
While the system was intended to account for variables such as shadows, trees and other obstructions in calculating true solar potential, officials at DRCOG decided it would be money better spent to broaden the program to include more properties, with a simpler estimate of solar potential based on property size.
“It’s supposed to get you interested,” said Simon Montagu, DRCOG director of customer resource and support. “It gives you a pretty good starting point.”
For example, the Home Depot at 1680 29th St. in Boulder has the capacity to generate more than 6,000 kilowatt- hours during summer months.
A full-scale system could save about $65,000 a year off the company’s utility bill, according to the calculator.
The online program also offers links to solar rebate centers and the option to fill out a contact card that is sent to local solar installers. The installers then contact the user to offer estimates and on-site inspections.
Neal Lurie, executive director of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association, said the solar map would likely help the solar industry grow.
“There are many commercial building owners and homeowners who just don’t know where to begin,” Lurie said.
“We’re going to be able to make it easy to begin the process of going solar,” he said. “Our hope is this will continue to strengthen Colorado’s presence in the solar industry.”
