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FAQ’s (Frequently
Asked Questions)
Owning a Clean Power System
* How does Clean Power™ generate
electricity?
* How do I use the electricity from my Clean
Power System?
* Will a system produce enough energy to handle
all my electricity needs?
* How much electricity will my Clean Power System
produce?
* Will I still need a utility provider? Do I
need to be connected to the grid?
* What will a Clean Power System look like on
my house?
* How will I know if my Clean Power System is
working?
* What happens in utility electrical outages?
* How safe is a Clean Power System?
Operational Performance and Quality
* How durable is a Clean
Power System?
* How long does a Clean Power System last?
* What happens at night?
* What happens on cloudy days?
* In what temperatures will a Clean Power System
operate?
* What is the warranty on a Clean Power System?
Saving Money with a Clean Power System
* What is Net Metering?
* Are government incentives available in my area?
What about tax credits?
* Who will help me apply for the available incentives?
Purchasing & Installing a Clean Power
System
* Will a Clean Power
System work with my home and roof type?
* What size system should I get?
* How much does a solar system cost?
* How do I purchase a Clean Power System?
* Will I need approval from my homeowners association?
* Can I increase the size of my solar system
at a later date?
* Can I add battery back-up at a later date?
* How long will it take to install?
How does a Clean
Power System generate electricity?
A Clean Power System generates electricity
through the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology which turn
the sun's light energy directly into electric energy — for
a thorough description of the photovoltaic process, see 'How
Solar Works'.
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How do I use the electricity from my Clean
Power System?
The electricity generated by
a Clean Power System works just like the electricity delivered
by your local utility. After passing through a component called
an inverter, the direct current (DC) electricity generated
by photovoltaic panels is converted to alternating current
(AC), the type of electricity that you access through the outlets
in your home.
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Will a system produce enough energy to
handle all my electricity needs?
Provided you have enough space,
a solar system can be appropriately sized to meet all of your
electricity needs, but in most cases it is not necessary for
a system to cover all of your needs in order to be cost-effective.
For instance, if your utility charges are based on a tiered
rate structure, you pay an incrementally higher rate for each
kWh that you use; in this case, simply eliminating the most
expensive portion of your consumption has a noticeable effect
on your monthly utility bill. Your Clean Power System solar
consultant will assist you in deciding what size system is
best for your home.
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How much electricity will my Clean Power
System system produce?
The amount of electricity generated
by a Clean Power System is dependent upon several factors,
primarily system size and your local geographic and environmental
conditions. Our Solar Savings Estimator will factor in your
local conditions and provide you with an estimate of the amount
of electricity that a system will produce for your home. Use
the Estimator to get a general idea of how much electricity
would be generated by a variety of system sizes or, for a quote,
fill out our Online Request Form or call our toll free number
877-SOLAR-WISE (765-2794) to schedule an appointment for a
no-obligation, in-home quote.
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Will I still need a utility provider? Do
I need to be connected to the grid?
Unless you choose a stand-alone system
with batteries, you will still need to be connected to the
grid through your local utility. While you generate the bulk
of your own electricity during the peak hours of daylight and
demand, your utility will seamlessly take over and continue
to supply your electricity at night and on very cloudy days.
For remote, off-grid applications in which utility access is
not feasible, stand-alone systems are ideal.
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What will a Clean Power System look like
on my house?
Visit our Photo
Gallery to get an idea of what one of our systems will
look like on your home.
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How will I know if my Clean Power System
is working?
Since PV is a motionless and
noiseless technology, the exclusive BP Solar Home Solutions™ In-Home
Display will allow you to keep track of how much electricity
your system is producing at any given moment and cumulatively
over time. To learn more about the various functions of the
Display, visit the System Components page.
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What happens in utility electrical outages?
In any type of utility outage,
only those Clean Power Systems with battery backup will continue
to have power. By law, any solar electric system without battery
backup must shut down until utility power returns.
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How safe is a Clean Power System?
Since solar systems are generally
mounted in a low or no-traffic area, are virtually maintenance
free, and have no moving parts, they are very safe. Clean Power
System components carry all appropriate/recommended electrical
certifications, including Underwriters Laboratory (UL listed)
and IEC. As with any electrical appliance, you should always
use proper care when handling solar system components, but
as an owner, you will have no cause to do so - your Clean Power
System solar consultant will take care of everything for you.
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How durable is a Clean Power System?
Clean Power Systems are very
durable. BP Solar panels have passed a standard battery of
tests and are built to withstand winds of up to 125 miles per
hour and 1 inch balls of hail.
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How long does a Clean Power System last?
BP Solar modules typically last
for more than 30 years and your system inverter should last
more than 10 years.
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What happens at night?
Since PV technology requires
sunlight to produce electricity, your system will not produce
during the dark hours of the night. Your local utility will
continue to supply your electricity at night unless you purchase
a system with a battery backup.
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What happens on cloudy
days?
Since PV technology requires sunlight
to produce electricity, the bulk of your electricity production
will take place in sunny conditions. Output is directly proportionate
to the amount of sunlight available at any given moment, so
systems can generate 50 — 70% of their typical output
under bright overcast conditions but production will continue
to diminish as less light reaches the surface of the modules.
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In what temperatures will
a Clean Power System operate?
BP Solar modules operate in temperatures
ranging from -13 to 122 degrees F (-25 to 50 degrees C). Since
PV modules are electronic devices that generate electricity
directly from light, not heat, solar panels actually work better
in cooler temperatures.
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What is the warranty on a Clean Power System?
BP Solar modules are warranted for 25
years.
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What is Net Metering?
Net metering is a regulation that obliges
utilities to allow excess energy generated by PV systems to
be sent to the grid, thus spinning the meter backward. This
arrangement allows all electricity produced by your Clean Power
System to be used to offset the remaining portion of your utility
bill.
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Are government incentives available in
my area? What about tax credits?
The State of California currently
has some of the best incentive plans for solar in the world.
For recognized systems, such as the Clean Power System, the
California Energy Commission will pay almost half of your system
costs. A 15% Federal tax credit is also available.
To view the costs and incentives of a solar
system in your area, use our Solar Savings Estimator.
To find the incentives
available in your state, visit www.dsireusa.org or
simply ask your Solar Power Specialist.
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Who will help me apply
for the available incentives?
Your Solar Power Specialist will
take care of the application process to secure these rebates
for you.
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Will a Clean Power System
work with my home and roof type?
To have solar panels installed on
your roof, you must own a home that has enough roof space
free from obstructions and is not shaded during the key sun
hours of the day. A southern orientation is ideal but east
and west facing roofs can still capture over 80% of the power
of a true south-facing roof. Both flat roofs and tilted roofs
are fine. Ground mounted systems are also available.
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What size system should I get?
The size you choose is a trade
off between the amount of money you want to invest and the
amount of electricity you want to produce. A typical US home
uses 5 kWp of electricity or approximately 13,000 kWh per year.
You can ask your utility provider or you can look at your old
electricity bill to calculate how much electricity your home
typically uses. But remember, you do not need to cover all
your electricity needs with a solar system to add value to
your home. Under the tiered rate structure used by most utilities,
the solar electricity generated by the Clean Power System -
even just a few kWp - can remove you from a higher charge bracket.
The only other condition
in deciding proper system size is the amount of suitable space
available on your roof. To be suitable, you must have unobstructed,
non-shaded roof area, either flat or a sloped, at an orientation
other than North. You need roughly 100 square feet of roof space
for each kWp that you wish to produce.
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How much does a solar
system cost?
The total cost for purchasing and installing
the solar system is based on the size of system you require,
the available incentives and subsidies that are available in
your area, and the specific details of the layout of your home.
Use our Solar Savings Estimator to calculate the cost of a
Clean Power System.
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How do I purchase a Clean Power System?
The Clean Power System must be
purchased though a BP Solar Certified Dealer. The best way
to contact a dealer is to provide us your contact information
by Requesting A Quote or call us at our toll free number: 877-SOLAR-WISE
(765-2794).
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Will I need approval from
my homeowners association?
The State of California prohibits homeowner's
associations from restricting solar devices. If you live outside
California, you should review your homeowner's association
bylaws. You can also ask your dealer about state laws that
prohibit the restriction of solar devices.
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Can I increase the size
of my Clean Power System at a later date?
Yes, provided you have the available
roof space.
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Can I add battery back-up at a later
date?
Yes, if you start with some battery
backup, it is easy to add more. However, if you start without
any backup, it will be rather expensive to add batteries
due to the high cost of adding a different type of inverter.
Systems without battery-backup use a different inverter than
those with battery backup.
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How long will it take to install?
It will typically take two-to-three
days for a professional installation.
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