A company called Mapdwell has developed a great solar mapping tool based on technology from one of the most prestigious engineering schools in the world – MIT.

The Mapdwell system is an online solar panel assessment tool. It allows communities to determine how much solar energy is at their disposal. The tool shows this solar potential through an intuitive color gradient system that is easy to visualize.

The user can select a building, and the tool will auto-populate the recommended solar panel installation locations. It will also provide the estimated capital cost as well as expected payback based on the electricity rates, incentives, and solar potential for that building. There are some assumptions made in the calculation, and the tool provides those values so you can adjust the final result if needed.

Currently, there are only six North American cities in the Mapdwell database.

• San Francisco, CA
• Boulder, CO
• Washington, DC
• Boston, MA
• New York City, NY
• Portland OR

If you would like to see this tool available for your area, there is a process for advocating your community (Click here to advocate).

Click here to check out this slick tool: Mapdwell.