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Today is Earth Day, but many of us are pledging to continue, or take on endeavors and habits that will make every day more green. If you're curious about solar power, and if it's the right step for you to take for your home or business, the LA County SolarMap and website can help you make your decision.
Use the interactive map (via their site; ours is just a screenshot) to look at summaries of solar installations (number of, amount of CO2 reduced) by zip code, as well as information about commercial, residential, or institutional installation, including size, cost, and testimony from the property owner. The site also gives you the option of plugging in an address to get an estimate of the location's solar potential. For example, this is what the owner of my apartment building would find out if they pursued solar power (hint, hint):
Total Roof Area: 4,025 sqft Area Suitable for Solar: 1,075 sqft* Solar PV Potential: Up to 16.19 kW Electricity Produced: Up to 24,116 kWh/yr Electricity Savings: Up to 3,135 $/yr** Carbon Savings: Up to 17,460 lbs/yr *2006 estimate **Los Angeles Department of Water & Power rates
