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Ready to go Solar?
Clean energy is finally within your reach! Our plug-in solar panels are simple, affordable, and designed to fit your space, budget, and your needs. Add solar power to your home and slash your electric bill while trimming your carbon footprint.
Live in the San Francisco Bay Area and interested in our panels? Book a quick consultation below. It's the first step to bringing plug-in solar to your home.
Requirements
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San Francisco Bay Area Resident
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Sunny spot on a flat surface for two 7ft x 4ft panels
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Outdoor outlet on dedicated circuit
Don't meet requirements?
How Plug-In Solar Powers Your Home
Plug-in solar works by sending power from the sun directly into your home through a standard outdoor outlet. As the panels generate electricity, your appliances automatically use that clean energy first, helping you use less from the grid and lower your utility bill.
What You'll Get
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Product Specs
Each Bright Saver Plug-In Panel kit comes with:
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2 solar panels, 400 W each
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Dimensions: 6'4" x 3'5" each
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Weight: 46 lbs each
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2 Microinverters, 120V
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1 Connector cable between the solar panels
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1 AC Cable to connect to an outlet
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2 pairs of adjustable aluminum mounts
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1 Smart power meter for backfeed prevention
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App for electrical usage and solar production monitoring
Struggling with High Energy Bills? We're Here to Help
If you're low-income, behind on utility payments, or finding it hard to keep up with your electric bill, you're not alone and you may qualify for our special program for underserved households.
As a nonprofit focused on expanding clean energy access to everyone, we offer discounted or free plug-in solar panels to low-income households and others facing financial hardship or barriers to clean energy. Apply now to see if you're elegible
Plug-In Panels Are Perfect For
🏠Homes with Unsuitable Roofs
Not every home is a good fit for rooftop solar. Whether it's the angle or structure, plug-in panels offer an easy alternative that works from the ground up.
📉Anyone Looking to Reduce Their Bills
Electricity costs keep climbing. Our panels help you use less from the grid, so you can cut your monthly bills and keep more in your pocket.
🏢Renters
Don't own your roof? No problem. Our plug-in panels sit on any accessible flat surface, like yards, decks, and patios. No rooftop required.
🌎Climate Conscious Individuals
Looking for a tangible way to reduce your carbon footprint? Plug-in panels let you power your life with clean energy right from your outlet.
💸People Who Can't Afford a Roof System
Traditional rooftop solar can cost $20,000 or more. Our systems are a fraction of the price, starting at just $1,329.
🔌People Who Want Energy Independence
Tired of rising utility rates and corporate control? Plug-in panels help you take back power, literally, by generating your own clean electricity.
What Happy Customers Are Saying
"We wanted solar but were told we needed a new roof. Bright Saver was a no brainer for us."
Terry, Oakland
"Plug-in solar is an idea whose day is here and Bright Saver is in the right place at the right time!"
Michael L.
"I’m a renter. My landlord wouldn’t install solar on my unit, and I didn’t think I’d ever have a chance to get solar. Thanks to Bright Saver I can!"
Sean, Concord
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Where are the panels mounted?The Backyard 800 W panels can be placed on an easily accessible flat surface such as a yard, deck, or patio. The Flex 200 W panel can be mounted on a balcony, wall, or fence with zip ties, suction cups, or whatever method you need to affix the panel to a surface vertically or at an angle.
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What do I need at my residence for this to work? (Backyard 800 W)You will need: -An easily accessible flat surface (yard, deck, patio, or other area) that receives sunlight most of the day where we can place 2 solar panels, each about 7 ft by 4 ft. -An outdoor electrical outlet on a dedicated circuit. During our initial consultation with you, we will confirm that there is a good spot to install the panels before we schedule an installation with the electrician.
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How does the installation process work?For our Backyard 800 W system, after an initial consultation, we will get back to you to schedule a time for us to come to your residence or do a video walkthrough. If everything looks good, we will schedule another visit to help you install the panels. The first visit will take about 30 minutes and the installation will take about 2-3 hours. For our Flex 200 system, installation is do-it-yourself. Detailed instructions will walk you through all the steps necessary to mount and connect your panel.
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I’m a renter.That’s why we are here! In Europe, most people with balcony solar are renters who live in apartment buildings. We aim to replicate that boom.
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I’m a homeowner and I've already tried to get rooftop solar but my roof isn’t suitable.You can still get a plug-in system because the panels don't have to go on your roof. We can mount them on the sides of buildings, on the ground, apartment balconies, anywhere the panels will face unobstructed sunlight. Our systems are a small fraction of the cost of rooftop systems and come with financing that costs less than the money you save on your electricity bill.
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So I can live anywhere and get them?Sort of. The panels need sunlight so they won’t work if you live in a redwood forest or anywhere without direct sunlight. We will be installing our first few hundred units in the Bay Area in early 2025 but if you live outside the Bay Area, we encourage you to get on our waitlist and you’ll be first in line once we come to your area.
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What if something goes wrong with my solar panels?Our team is always available to address any issues. You can reach us via email at support@brightsaver.org or by phone at (408) 345-5768.
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What happens to my solar panels at the end of their lifespan?They are recyclable. They should last 20 years or more. We will provide information about how to dispose of them properly,
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Can the system power my home during an outage?No, we currently do not offer a battery and our system is not designed for off-grid use.
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How does Bright Saver make money?We're a nonprofit on a mission to expand clean energy to the masses. Thanks to funding from donors and philanthropic loans, we're able to offer plug-in solar at an affordable upfront purchase price. Our bigger mission is to jumpstart a "Solar-for-All" movement by bringing down prices and paving the way for others to enter the space. The more providers there are, the lower prices will get for everyone.
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Are these systems certified?Yes, they are tested and certified according to strict safety standards, such as UL 1741 for inverters and various international standards for solar panels.
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Is there any fire risk?Modern plug-in systems come with built-in overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection, and temperature monitoring systems to prevent overheating. For systems larger than 400 W, we recommend plugging your panels into a dedicated electrical circuit, which is typically the case with outdoor outlets, to eliminate any risk of overloading a circuit.
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What about electrical safety?All inverters used in plug-in solar units are grid-tied. This means that if the system is unplugged or the grid goes down, the solar unit will shut off automatically within milliseconds. The prongs of the connection cable to your panel will never be energized when unplugged and are therefore touch-safe.
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My house has older wiring. Will this overload my circuits?A licensed electrician from Bright Saver will support your installation of the Backyard 800 W system and will make sure that the circuit where the panels get plugged in is safe for supporting the current they will produce.
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How does the system prevent backfeeding to the grid? (Backyard 800 W System)We provide a Smart Power Meter that gets installed in your breaker panel and continuously measures the current flowing in from the grid. If your Backyard 800 W solar panels produce more electricity at any point than the loads in your home are consuming, the current turns negative. In that very instant, as backfeeding to the grid is about to happen, the Smart Power Meter wirelessly signals the inverter on your solar panel to throttle production. This way, we ensure that your panel will never produce more electricity than your home is using.
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Do I have to worry about permitting?We will do our best to help you navigate the local regulations, but you are ultimately responsible for compliance. If you own or rent a single family home, placing panels in your yard does not require a permit in many municipalities. If you live in a condo or townhouse, you will want to check with your homeowners association or landlord for individual guidelines.
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Do I need a net metering agreement with my electrical utility company?No. The Backyard 800 W plug-in systems distributed by Bright Saver come with a Smart Power Meter that gets installed in the breaker panel. It throttles the output of the solar panel as soon as it detects electricity starting to flow back to the grid. You will therefore not be exporting any energy to the grid and won't need a net metering agreement.