| 1 |
How does a Solar Energy
System generate electricity? |
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A Solar Energy System generates electricity through the use of photovoltaic
(PV) technology which turn the suns light energy directly
into electric energy. |
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| 2 |
How do I use the electricity
from my Solar Energy System? |
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The electricity generated by a Solar Energy 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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| 3 |
Will a system produce enough energy
to handle all my electricity needs? |
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Providing 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 Solar Energy System representative will
assist you in deciding what size system is best for
your home. |
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| 4 |
How much electricity will my Solar
Energy System system produce? |
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The amount of electricity generated by a Solar Energy System is dependent
upon several factors, primarily system size and your
local geographic and environmental conditions. For a
quote call 1-800-749-9291 to schedule an appointment
for a no-obligation, in-home quote. |
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| 5 |
How will I know if my Solar Energy
System is working? |
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Since
PV is a motionless and noiseless technology, the Solar Energy System
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. |
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| 6 |
What happens in utility
electrical outages? |
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In any type of utility outage, only those
Solar Energy 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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| 7 |
How safe is a Solar Energy System? |
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Since solar systems are generally mounted in a low or no-traffic area,
virtually maintenance free, and have no moving parts,
they are very safe. UR Solar Systems 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 representative will take care of everything
for you. |
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| 8 |
How durable is the UR Solar Energy System? |
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Very durable. Our panels have passed
a standard battery of tests and are built to withstand
winds of up to 125 miles per hour and 1inch hail. |
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| 9 |
How long does a Solar Energy System
last? |
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Solar modules typically last for more than 30 years and your system inverter
should last more than 10 years. |
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| 10 |
What happens at night?
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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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| 11 |
What happens on cloudy
days? |
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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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| 12 |
Will a Solar Energy System work with my home? |
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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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| 13 |
What size system should
I get? |
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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 kW 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 Solar Energy System
- even just a few kW can remove you from a higher
charge bracket. |
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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 kW that you wish to produce.
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| 14 |
How much does a solar
system cost? |
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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.
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| 15 |
Can I increase the size
of my system at a later date? |
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Yes,
provided you have the available roof space.
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| 16 |
How long will it take to install? |
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It will typically take two days for a professional installation. |
