While most homeowners in the Denver metro will see their property values rise this month, solar panels may be another way to push the value even higher.
With that in mind, let's compare the relative capacity for solar panel in a few cities, according to Google's Project Sunroof. Where does the sun shine brightest?
Using Google Earth imagery, the company estimated roof shape and size, then compared it to weather. The end result can be used on an individual level to estimate possible savings from installing solar panels, or compare on a larger scale, like the look at different cities that follows.
Aurora
83 percent solar-viable buildings
It seems the sun barely sets on the empire of Aurora.
Boulder
61 percent solar-viable buildings
Boulder, you can't have gorgeous views of the Flatirons and the highest potential for solar installations, it just wouldn't be fair.
Denver
61 percent solar-viable buildings
Blame Robert Speer and his "City Beautiful" campaign that brought trees to our city. Our city has plenty of solar potential but not as much as Aurora. Of course, trees also could help the city lower temperatures in the face of climate change, so it's not all bad.
Lakewood
79 percent solar-viable buildings
Despite looking shadier than Denver, Google says that Lakewood has a higher share of solar-viable buildings.
