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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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