2014.10.02

PRESS RELEASE | Chile Home To Mapdwell’s First International Project

Competitive process brings Solar System™ to Vitacura – the greenest and most progressive community in Metropolitan Santiago – as the country enacts its official Net Billing regulation.



BOSTON, Massachusetts ― October 1st, 2014 ― For Immediate Release

Mapdwell announced today the launch of Solar System in Vitacura (Santiago, Chile) in partnership with the local Municipality to provide the community with the most advanced solar decision-making tool available today. The strategic alliance brings actionable information for solar PV opportunities to home- and business-owners, building managers, installers, and other industry stakeholders at the dawn of Chile’s brand new “Net Billing regulation”, effective October 11.

Conceived as a public good, Solar System is Mapdwell’s open, online, interactive, and user-oriented tool for rooftop solar photovoltaic remote assessment and cost-benefit analysis. It is based on state-of-the-art technology developed by our team at M.I.T. – and delivered though strategic partnerships seeking to amplify the impact of collective sustainability through awareness, education, and community engagement.

Covering over 15,000 building structures, the project identified 400+ Megawatts of potential high-yield photovoltaic capacity capable of delivering more than 500,000 Megawatt-hours per year. This is enough clean, renewable energy to power 85,000 local households, create over 1.2 billion dollars in local business, and offset carbon emissions equivalent to planting over 5 million trees.

Vitacura, under Mayor Raúl Torrealba’s administration, becomes the first community in Chile to provide its citizens with a comprehensive, open access, solar rooftop analysis, and the first community outside the United States to partner with Mapdwell to do so. The project was unveiled this morning by the Mayor, in a launch ceremony and cocktail at the Amanda Labarca public school. Environment Department Vice-Secretary Marcelo Mena, Mayor Torrealba, and Mapdwell’s Eduardo Berlin, offered remarks to an enthusiastic audience.

Solar System is the latest contribution to Vitacura’s continuing efforts to lead Chileans towards sustainable practices, energy efficiency, and smarter, healthier living. Mapdwell is honored to partner with the City to make renewable solar a reality through information, education, and access.

Mapdwell Solar System for Vitacura, Chile is available today at mapdwell.com/vitacura



About Mapdwell

The Mapdwell Project is about enabling communities with information in order to drive sustainable practices, community awareness, energy efficiency, and smart development through the aggregate effort of individuals. Mapdwell proposes an organic, bottom-up, collective approach to sustainability by delivering accurate, open, and unbiased information to increase education and spread knowledge.

We work at the intersection of data and design to create effective decision-making tools. We assist complex decision-making processes – through carefully designed choice architecture – where economics, education, and environmental goals can be aligned. Communities can now do well while doing good.

Mapdwell was recognized as a high impact, early stage company at the 2013 SXSW Eco Conference, the sustainability chapter of the world renowned, cutting edge cultural, music, interactive, and film conference and festival. Earlier this year Wired Magazine selected Solar System as one of the “The Most Amazing, Beautiful and Viral Maps of 2013.” Mapdwell is one of the finalists of the Fast Company 2014 Innovation by Design Awards, alongside Google, Nike, The New York Times, Ideo, Disney, BIG, USGBC, NASA, and others.

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