Another Cool Online Tool for Solar Pros

I wrote a post last week talking about great online tools for solar professionals that can help them with estimating production, incentives, and payback on solar power systems.  In the process of doing that I kept thinking "We really need a map of all the existing PV systems in the US."  I've seem some versions of this, but most fell short of my expectations on usability and data.  Well, the next day NREL rolled out their Open PV Mapping Project.  

This is just the tool I had been looking for.  We needed a central agency (and who better than NREL?) to be both a clearinghouse of existing information and allow users to upload their own system information to create a comprehensive database.  It appears we now have that. 

Take a Tour
I started by clicking on the 'Explore' button on the upper right menu, and then clicking on 'Launch' on the next page.  This will lead you to an interactive map of the US, as seen in the screenshot above.  There you can click on your state, city, and even zip code and see just how many watts or systems are installed in the area in question.  The program will even tell you about average system size and cost.

Back on the home page, there is also a way to share your own system data.  Of course the success or failure of any open source project depends on the users loading their own information.  There is a way to load one system or multiple systems.

Next Question: Why?
Besides the idea of showing just how the industry is growing in the US, what can you use this tool for?  My most successful contractor clients learn how to leverage existing solar consumers for maximum affect.  Some have referral programs, others use the demographics of solar homes to target prospective customers. 

So if you can see where the systems are being installed, how much they are paying, and the size of the systems, how can you use that information?  Isn't it likely that the people in that area share similar incomes and environmental views?  Isn't it likely that people in that area generally all shop at the same Whole Foods, Target, or Home Depot?  Would one of those stores let you set up a display booth out front on a Saturday morning?

What about a direct mail campaign?  Did you know that a good direct mail company can look at a zip code and tell you approximately what each household income is, what magazines they subscribe to, and their political party?  Would this help you find customers?

These are just some of the ways you can use this tool to find new customers, how would you use it?

Kriss Bergethon is a solar professional and writer from Colorado, visit his site at Solar Lighting.