Google has launched a new project to help people figure out the complexities of installing solar panels.

Called Project Sunroof, this video demonstrates how Google came up with the idea. Apparently, people google questions about installing solar panels all the time, like the number of panels needed, if their property gets enough sunlight, and how much money they’ll save.

Google engineers decided to take the info they already have and put it into one easy-to-use site that will basically act like a “treasure map” for solar energy.

It’s like Google Maps for the sun.

Right now, Project Sunroof only covers Boston, San Francisco and Fresno, Calif., but Google is hoping to expand it soon.

Visit the site and view an example address. You’ll see that Google is calculating the usable hours of sunlight, square footage availability for panels, and the average savings a building’s owner could experience over a time period. See the sample below:

Photo via Google Project Sunroof
Photo via Google Project Sunroof

It also helps calculate the best way to obtain solar panels: Lease, loan or buy. And it can point you to local dealers to help you obtain those panels.

Can’t wait until this hits Seattle.

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