How Much Potential Solar Energy Does Your House Or Neighborhood Have?

Englewood, Colo.-based engineering giant CH2M Hill provides raw data on solar power potential under the U.S. Solar America Initiative.

Punching an address into the city's search engine pulls up data on the estimated amount of solar photovoltaic energy that could be installed on a specific roof, potential electricity cost reduction, and potential carbon dioxide/greenhouse gas reduction.

Check out the search engine for the city San Francisco.

"Right now, to get a solar assessment on a roof, you have to call up the solar installer, they bring their ladder, a guy wonders around on your roof, and two or three weeks later you get a report," Herrmann said.

"With this technology, you could do it accurately and quickly without having to roll a truck."

Full story from CBS Marketwatch.

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