FAQ

The ideal placement of a solar system is on a southern or western facing roof with minimal shading and lots of available roof space. Clean Solar looks for the optimal roof surfaces of each home, which is why we like to get on the roof during our onsite appointments.

Adding a solar system to your home can potentially increase the resale value of your home. In 2014, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory conducted a study that showed buyers are willing to pay a premium of $12,000 to $15,000 for a home with an average-sized resident-owned solar system.

Your savings depends on how much you can offset your monthly bil and how large a system you can install on your roof. If your average utility bill is currently $200, you may save up to $180 a month.

Yes, shade is the enemy to solar. Shading on your solar system prohibits the maximum energy production of each panel affected by shade. Your system can produce energy with roof shading, but the production will lessen as sunlight is not on parts of your roof. Microinverters and optimizers help maximize energy production even when shade is present.

The project timeline for your solar installation begins with your Clean Solar contract signing. We complete the project when your utility company provides a “Permission to Operate” (PTO). Receiving the PTO takes approximately 6-10 weeks on average. Throughout this process, Clean Solar takes care of all the design, permit, and installation plans of your solar system. The actual installation of your solar
system is 1-3 days. Find out more…

An inverter changes the DC energy produced by your solar panels to AC energy that is ready to be used in your home and on the grid. We offer microinverters and single inverters with optimizers for residential installations. The best option for your home will depend on the placement and size of your solar system.

In December 2022, with the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. extended the Investment Tax Credit for solar at 30% through 2032. The solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of the income tax you owe. If your solar energy system generates electricity for a home in the United States, you qualify. 

During the day when your solar system is producing more energy than your household can use, the excess energy can go towards charging your battery. Later in the day, when your Solar is not producing as much energy, and rates are higher, the system uses the energy stored in your battery for your daily tasks at $0 charge to you! Batteries allow you to get more out of your solar system and offset higher PG&E rates.

The battery will sense the power outage and automatically transition into backup mode. The battery is wired to an essential load panel, in which you select the rooms and appliances that are critical to your family. In the case of a prolonged power outage, your solar system can refill the power in your battery.

Clean Solar installs grid-tied residential solar and battery systems, meaning that you can retrieve energy from the grid when your solar system and battery are not providing enough energy to power your house. We do not install off-grid solar systems.

NABCEP stands for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners – the standard-bearer in the solar industry. Clean Solar is not your average installer. We are NABCEP certified and the only solar contractor in the Bay Area that has designed and written a curriculum and has taught classes to the next generation of solar installers through an accredited school, San Jose-MetroEd.

We are licensed, insured, and bonded to install residential Solar in the state of California. Our CA contractor’s license number is #910849.