U.S. Solar Radiation Resource Maps:

    Atlas for the Solar Radiation Data Manual for Buildings

These maps show the general trends in the amount of solar radiation received in the United States and its territories. The solar radiation values are derived from the 1961-1990 National Solar Radiation Data Base (NSRDB) and published in the Solar Radiation Data Manual for Buildings. Also available online is the Atlas for the Solar Radiation Data Manual for Flat-Plate and Concentrating Collectors.

1.  Select a month

To see the 30-year averages for a particular month, click on the button next to that month. To see the overall 30-year average solar radiation atlas for all months, click on the button next to "Annual".

January February March April
May June July August
September October November December
Annual

2.  Select surface orientation

Data for five surfaces, a horizontal window and vertical windows facing north, east, south and west, were used to make this solar atlas. Included are the solar radiation incident on the outside of the surface and the solar radiation transmitted through the surface. Choose a surface from either the average incident or average transmitted solar radiation list:

  For descriptions from the Manual  click here.


  Average Incident Solar Radiation  

       

  Average Transmitted Solar Radiation for Double Glazing  


  Horizontal




Global   Horizontal
Unshaded
Minimum   North

Unshaded
Maximum Shaded
Diffuse
  East

Unshaded
Clear-Day Global
 Shaded

  North


Global
  South

Unshaded
Diffuse Shaded
Clear-Day Global
  West

Unshaded

  East


Global Shaded
Diffuse
Clear-Day Global

  South


Global
Diffuse
Clear-Day Global

  West

Global
Diffuse
Clear-Day Global

3.  View the map (by pushing this button):     

Return to RReDC home page ( http://rredc.nrel.gov )