New Tools Are Helping Property Owners Evaluate the ROI of Solar

Propmodo Technology

Greetings,

The big PropTech news this week was CoStar’s latest copyright infringement lawsuit over its proprietary photography. This time, the target isn’t an upstart commercial real estate listing site but residential property giant Zillow. The suit claims Zillow knowingly took nearly 50,000 photos from CoStar’s database to populate its apartment listings. The lawsuit was announced the same day CoStar’s founder and CEO Andy Florence spoke at a conference, where he drew jeers from Zillow employees in the audience. During his speech, Florence said Zillow had a history of copyright infringement, citing a case the company lost to VHT Studios, which CoStar acquired through its recent Matterport purchase.

While the lawsuit appears to have merit, it is also likely to be viewed as a familiar CoStar tactic for gaining leverage over competitors. CoStar has been making steady inroads into the residential listing space with its Homes.com platform. By forcing Zillow to remove the allegedly unauthorized photos and tying them up in a costly legal battle, CoStar hopes to further boost its market share in the already turbulent residential real estate sector.

This week, we’re exploring the real-world factors behind successful solar adoption, in partnership with Omnidian. It’s no longer just about panel efficiency—rooftop space, utility rates, sun exposure, and the right financial tools all play a role in determining whether solar pencils out. We’re also digging into the less visible side of solar: why it’s the cheapest power source on paper, but only delivers full value when backed by expert installation, proactive maintenance, and third-party monitoring that keeps systems running at peak performance.

Let’s go!

Flash Poll

Still navigating solar + storage without a clear strategy? You’re not alone. Many commercial property owners are exploring how to boost ROI, resilience, and value. Take this quick poll, then read how Omnidian helps maximize solar performance and protect your investment.

Presented by Omnidian

Data Doesn’t Lie: Solar Is Profitable for CRE Owners

Solar is economically viable for at least a million buildings in the United States, with an estimated 8% IRR. But only ~5% of the market is currently being tapped.

Discover how your firm can invest in clean energy solutions – as well as optimize their performance for maximum ROI – in this interview with Kevin Berkemeyer, Co-founder and CEO of Station A, a technology company helping CRE owners identify buildings ripe for clean energy investments.

Solar Technology

Bytes

💽 The land of data
A new interactive map reveals where data centers are being built across the U.S., highlighting two regions where these high-tech facilities are especially concentrated.

⚡️ Fully utilized
A utility management platform called Billee Technologies just announced a $9.15 million seed round to help it scale out its automated utility billing platform.

🛸 Space invaders
Grand Rapids may soon use drones to scan downtown parking lots as it prepares for future development and rising demand.

Overheard

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Propmodo Technology is edited by Franco Faraudo with contributions from readers like you and the Propmodo team.

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