About the Platform
Who is MyHEAT?
MyHEAT is an Albertan company known for empowering urban energy efficiency™ by helping to address one of the biggest hurdles faced when engaging homeowners about energy efficiency – its invisibility. We’ve helped millions of home and business owners visualize and compare heat loss across entire cities.
Now, we’ve expanded our offerings to promote the adoption of renewable energy generation through our rooftop solar potential platform! We are working with the City of Edmonton to help Edmontonians with their first step on their journey to go solar.
How is MyHEAT providing this information?
MyHEAT has partnered with Google to apply the Project Sunroof technology in communities across Canada.
Why is this platform being offered in Edmonton?
The City of Edmonton has partnered with MyHEAT to offer this solar potential map as a starting point on your journey to go solar! The City is helping Edmontonians install solar systems on their homes to produce renewable energy as part of the Change for Climate initiative.
Solar Potential Calculations
Where can I learn more about Project Sunroof?
For questions regarding the Project Sunroof technology, visit Google’s Project Sunroof FAQ page.
What size of panels are you considering in this calculation?
Panels are assumed to be 1.65 m by 0.992 m with a nominal DC capacity of 400 W.
A solar installer provided a different estimate than this tool. Why?
Solar energy production estimates depend on many factors and sources of information may have different estimates as a result of shading, typical weather in your area and equipment used. Additionally, Project Sunroof mapping data may be from a different period in time than other estimates and may not show recent growth or removal of trees.
How should I use the estimated information for my home?
These estimates are provided solely for informational purposes. It is recommended that residents contact a qualified solar installer to complete a site analysis that provides a detailed and personalized assessment of the solar potential specific to the building’s needs.
In using the solar potential map, you expressly agree that you use it solely at your own risk and that the City of Edmonton is not liable to you for any damages whatsoever including any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or other damages resulting from your use of the solar potential map.
Data Coverage and Availability
I’ve searched for a building, but no solar potential data is available. Why?
Google Project Sunroof data is missing for some buildings. The rooftop that you’ve searched may be:
- Located outside of the current Google Project Sunroof coverage area.
- Be missing as a result of a gap in the available data through Google Project Sunroof. Examples of this may include garages or buildings that were under construction at the time that the data was collected.
The Google Project Sunroof data is always being reviewed to address existing issues. While solar potential data may not currently be available for the rooftop that you are interested in exploring, it may still have great solar potential. We recommend that you access the local resources and rebates included on this site to learn more about options available to you.
To learn more about the details of the MyHEAT solar potential map, please contact us at hello@myheat.ca
Where is the data for my garage?
Google Project Sunroof data is missing for some buildings. While solar potential data may not currently be available for the rooftop that you are interested in exploring, it may still have great solar potential. MyHEAT recommends that you contact a qualified solar installer to complete a detailed site assessment.
Adding solar panels to a detached garage roof may be an excellent option. If you add solar panels to your garage, you will not have to modify your home’s roof. Solar panels could be installed in addition to a system on your house or be installed when adding solar panels to your home’s roof is not optimal.
The Google Project Sunroof data is always being reviewed to address existing issues.
Why is the platform only applicable to single-family homes and not other, larger buildings?
The Project Sunroof technology calculates solar potential for the roof of every building. However, the system size and financial estimates found on the platform are tailored to residential buildings and do not consider units within the buildings. The economics for commercial and industrial buildings are often different from residential buildings due to different regulations, electricity prices, and solar installation costs.
Solar and Your Home
Why does Alberta have such great solar potential?
According to Natural Resources Canada, Alberta has one of the best solar resources in Canada.
The energyhub.org link below compares the solar resource potential in various municipalities in Canada. It is of note that Edmonton (with a potential of 1246 kWh/kW) has a similar annual solar resource potential to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (1253 kWh/kW), assuming south facing panels with a latitude tilt.
- Energyhub.org: Solar Energy Maps Canada
- Natural Resources Canada: Photovoltaic and solar resource maps
Where can I learn more about adding solar panels to my building?
Luckily for you, the City of Edmonton has partnered with MyHEAT to offer this Solar Potential Map as a starting point on your journey to go solar. There are plenty of resources out there to help you with your next steps.
Here are some of our recommendations for local resources:
- City of Edmonton: Solar Energy
- Solar Alberta: A Solar Consumer’s Guide
- Solar Alberta: How to Choose a Solar Provider
- Solar Alberta: Browse Solar Providers
- Natural Resources Canada: Greener Homes Grant
Are there rebates for installing solar panels on my home?
Yes, launched in June 2021, the Canada Greener Homes Initiative helps homeowners make their homes more energy-efficient. Grants of up to $5,000 and interest-free loans up to $40,000 are available to help homeowners upgrade their homes, such as adding insulation or installing rooftop solar panels.
To apply, you need a pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation completed by a certified energy advisor. Up to $600 of the EnerGuide evaluation cost is eligible for the Canada Greener Homes Grant reimbursement. Follow the step-by-step process online to register for the initiative and book your pre-retrofit evaluation.
Thinking about installing a solar system for your home? Now is the time.
Natural Resources Canada: Greener Homes Grant
Natural Resources Canada: Registration for pre-retrofit evaluation
What's the first step to installing solar panels on my home?
It is important to remember that the estimates on this platform are for informational purposes only. If you are considering adding solar panels to your home, MyHEAT recommends that you contact a qualified solar installer to complete a detailed site assessment and visit the links included on this website to learn more about local resources and incentive programs. When applying through the Canada Greener Homes Grant you start with a pre-retrofit evaluation. Please visit the following website for detailed information on the application process.
Natural Resources Canada: Greener Homes Grant
How much electricity can I generate in Alberta?
According to Alberta’s Micro-Generation Regulation, you may only install a system large enough to produce the amount of energy that you typically use on an annual basis. If you produce more electricity than you use in a month, the extra energy is automatically sent back into the grid, and you receive a credit on your bill.
Solar Alberta: A Solar Consumer’s Guide
How does my utility provider measure the energy that my solar panels are producing?
When you install solar panels, your utility provider will also install a bi-directional meter at your home. This allows them to track the energy flowing into and out of your house through a process called net metering.
With net metering, you only pay for the electricity that you use beyond what your solar panels can generate. It also allows your utility to provide a credit for any excess electricity produced that you do not use within your home. Any credit you receive will be based on an agreement with your utility provider.
It is important to remember that your utility provider can’t see what is happening on your side of the meter. In most cases, your financial benefits will be the result of the money you save by reducing the amount of electricity that you need your utility to provide.
My building's roof needs replacing soon. Does it make sense to combine the installations?
Yes. Solar panels can last 25 to 40 years, so if your roof may need replacing, it is important to do it before having them installed. However, if your roof is in good condition prior to the installation, a solar array will shield and help protect the roof.
Who do I contact if I have further questions about solar in the City of Edmonton?
To learn more about the details of the MyHEAT solar potential map for Edmonton, please contact us at hello@myheat.ca