For those who want solar panels, the question is often “How many people?” And in the case of a heat pump, it is “How big is it?” In order to answer these questions, the contractor usually needs to step into your property.
However, over the past decade, solar installers have been trimming that time-consuming process significantly. Like Tesla, some have completely eliminated it. The secret is software. This, when combined with a variety of data sources, allows the installer to accurately model the number of panels needed for the home.
Like many other solar installers, Palmetto has its own internal tools to evaluate potential projects. It is built on the software I got when I bought Mapdwell, a solar mapping startup.
However, as growth slowed in the residential solar market, the company began working on other electrification projects, such as backup batteries and heat pumps. It is difficult to develop software for these products that live in a home where satellite images do not reach them.
Therefore, Palmetto began collecting data and developed a virtual view of all residential buildings in the United States. Michael Bratzfaris, president of Palmetto’s Energy Intelligence, told TechCrunch that the company “is essentially simulating digital twins across all US home construction stocks.”
The company’s tools rely on public and private data. If there is no accurate information, the AI will use clues to guess what’s hiding in the wall. For example, houses built in the 1950s are likely to use 2×4 wood on their exterior walls, limiting the amount of insulation that fits inside.
“The technology allows you to divide a home into over 60 different characteristics and attributes,” Bratsforis said.
To validate the model, Palmetto can rely on data purchased from the company or already collected in households that have leased solar panels.
“This allows us to anonymize and use actual information and data about our homes to compare the performance of our models and train them further,” he said.
Palmetto was also inspired by his time at Twilio, and the move Bratsafolis said, decided to open the tool to external developers.
“I came from that developer move. It’s a microservices approach to delivering API building blocks, providing empowerment like partners and developers,” he said.
The developer offers 500 free calls each month, and then 5 cents per call. For large customers, Bratsafolis said the company is open to negotiate special pricing.
Bratsafolis hopes developers will build tools to speed up electrification of US building inventory, and Palmetto hopes to get early clues as to where the market is heading. Additionally, using API products gives you incredible insight into demand and markets. ”