4 Best Solar Companies in Carbondale, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 4 in Carbondale based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Carbondale, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Carbondale homeowner saves $1,316/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Carbondale
If you’re trying to find the best solar companies in Carbondale, sorting through hundreds of options can be overwhelming, but it can pay off since switching to solar energy can offer so many fantastic benefits. Due to its moderate amount of average daily sunlight, Carbondale has a good amount of solar growth, so a lot of the best solar companies in the country have opened up there to help residents embrace renewable energy.
There are lots of installers to consider, but in this article, we’ll help you get a handle on all your options by recommending some of the best solar companies in Carbondale.If you’d like to get free, no-obligation quotes from the top Carbondale solar companies, you can click the button below to learn more.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Carbondale
AES Solar
Clear Pricing Policy- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Grid-Tied Solar System- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
StraightUp Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
Jackson Solar LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
D&D Electric
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Family-Operated Business
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Carbondale
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Carbondale based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Carbondale
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Illinois solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Carbondale
For many readers, the decision of which solar installer to go with comes down to prices.The cost of solar and the savings it generates vary depending on a few important factors such as:
- Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you receive a tax credit curretnly worth 0 of your total installation cost, your local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that can help you save even more. Not including incentives, you can save an average of $16,000 over the first 20 years with your system, too.
- The kind of solar panels you’re thinking of getting: More high-tech panels are more costly, so that will affect your budget for your solar project.
- How much electricity your home consumes: Households that consume a lot of energy each month may need more solar panels and, consequently, be more expensive, but will also save more on their energy bills over time.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop gets limited direct sunlight, your solar panel system won’t be able to produce as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on electric bills than a roof that gets a lot of sunlight.
So is buying solar panels worth it? Whether you want to lower your electric bills, carbon dioxide emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many Carbondale homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Carbondale
If you’re planning on making the switch to solar energy, a variety of government incentives and subsidies can greatly reduce the installation costs and expedite the return on your investment.There are quite a few federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that can earn you a decent amount of money back after buying a qualifying system. Our article on solar incentives goes over more in-depth information on the incentives you can find in Carbondale.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Carbondale
If you’re planning on adding solar panels to your home, one of the primary reasons why may be to lower your carbon footprint.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Carbondale, though. Adopting solar power is an impactful choice for the environment, due to the fact that the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation – all of which can be powered by solar instead.In Carbondale, the average person can lower their carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year after going solar. As you can see, going solar has so many other rewards outside of saving money. One of the primary ones is that you can help save the Earth too.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's Carbondale, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar panel company in Carbondale?
The best local solar company in Carbondale is AES Solar, with a rating of 4.80 stars.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of going solar?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lets you spend less on your power bills, it’s good for the environment, and it can give you a decent return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t produce electricity at night, there is a high upfront cost and solar panels can be an eyesore.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after getting solar panels?
Solar panels typically pay for themselves in about 16.0 years, but your solar payback period will depend on your utility costs. The more your typical electricity bill, the faster your solar panel system will recoup your installation costs.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
For the most part, solar panels are about 15 to 25% efficient, which means they can convert that percentage of the sun’s energy into usable electricity.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.