To attain a wealth of solar energy information, you don’t have to go much farther than your own computer. More than just a virtual phonebook, the Web also offers interactive tools that are practical and easy to use. These tools can help you configure the best position for your solar power system or shop around for a particular solar product. The following online applications, for instance, do everything from mapping solar activity within a specific city to measuring solar potential in every city across the country. The best part is that there are many more tools where these five came from, and most of them are entirely free.

1. The Earth System Research Laboratory, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, includes two online solar calculators. For every day of the year, one calculator will give you precise times for the sunrise, sunset, and solar noon hour. All you need to do is type in your location. The other calculator will help you calculate the exact position of the sun, including its elevation and angle, by your city, location, and time zone. A helpful tool for calculating solar intensity and length of daylight in your area.
2. A partnership between the American Solar Energy Society, the Solar Electric Power Association, Energy Matters, and the U.S. Department of Energy, FindSolar.com links consumers to solar energy professionals. The Website includes a solar estimator by city and county, federal tax credit information by state, and links to government programs and resources.
3. You will wish you lived in San Francisco after viewing the SF Solar Map. San Francisco residents and other curious homeowners can use the interactive map to see the solar potential throughout the renowned city. In addition to marking every existing solar installation in San Francisco, the SF Solar Map pulls up details as well as photos of these installations with a single click. In addition, users can type an address into the toolbar to pull up a photo of the location as well as estimate its solar PV potential.
4. Beyond San Francisco, online maps such as the one provided by first look can help you determine the solar and wind potential at any point in the U.S. From looking at first look map initially, it’s easy to see that the Southwest makes the most sense for solar energy. The Website includes two separate maps for wind and solar. See what kind of difference alternative energy can make in your city.
5. Finally, the Solar Program Options Tool (SPOT) is an online evaluation tool that recommends and prioritizes solar electricity options for electric utilities. Using basic information, SPOT will help utilities identify and rank solar goals and objectives. For instance, users looking for different ways to increase solar capacity can better assess whether to use customer rebates, education programs, solar energy credits, or other incentives. SPOT is available for Solar Electric Power Association members.

Let’s not forget another invaluable online tool: CalFinder Solar’s free solar power estimates. Simply type your contact information and type of solar service in the online toolbox provided and we will get back to you within 24 hours, in person, to get you connected with free quotes from our network of certified solar contractors.

Posted on February 7th in Solar Products by Renee.