7 Best Solar Companies in Champaign City, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 7 in Champaign City based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Champaign City, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Champaign City homeowner saves $1,124/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Champaign City
When choosing between the best solar panel installers, Champaign City homeowners have more options to choose from than ever before, which can be too much to get a handle on, but we’re here to make making the switch to solar energy easier. For most homeowners, the choice to invest in solar rests on whether or not they can save. The good news is solar can help most homeowners save a decent amount on their fairly high and increasing energy bills.
As you start your search for the best solar companies in Champaign City, you might see that there are many providers to choose from. So, we’ve put together a curated list of the top solar companies in the area.To help you know if solar panels are a good idea for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in Champaign City by clicking the button below.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Champaign City
SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC
Free Quotes- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Financing Assistance- Panel Installation
New Prairie Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
Harvest Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
SunSent Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
Accutek Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Family-Operated Business
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Champaign City
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Champaign City 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 Champaign City
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 Champaign City
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you must first pay to install your panels.There are several factors you should take into consideration when trying to figure out the overall cost and how much you can save, such as:
- Your income and budget: This shapes what model of solar panels you can afford.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: This, and your roof configuration, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can make.
- Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you deduct 0 of your total installation cost, your state or local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that will help you save even more. Excluding incentives, you can save an average of $13,000 over 20 years with your solar panels, too.
- Your energy consumption: If your home needs to use a lot of energy, you'll see more savings from going solar.
So are solar panels worth it? Whether you’re trying to decrease your energy bills, carbon emissions or both, solar panels are a good investment for many Champaign City homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Champaign City
There are lots of reasons why you should switch to solar. One of them includes some government incentives you can take advantage of.You qualify for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your a solar system. You can also potentially use the ITC with other local incentives. For more information about incentives for homeowners in Champaign City, see our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Champaign City
If you’re planning on adding solar panels to your home, one of the main reasons why may be to reduce your reliance on nonrenewable energy.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Champaign City, though. The EPA reports that electricity production is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels. Switching to a clean energy source like solar power can help bring down that statistic in a city like Champaign City that accounts for a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions each year.Even though solar panel manufacturing emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by greatly lowering the amount of CO2 you would have released if you still used nonrenewable energy. In Champaign City, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year with solar panels. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you’ll likely understand that there are many advantages to adopting solar energy other than just saving money on bills. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is invaluable.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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
EcoWatch's Champaign City, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar installer in Champaign City?
The best local solar company in Champaign City is SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC, with a rating of 4.80 stars.
What are the pros and cons of solar power?
The biggest advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, for some, completely eradicate your electricity bills, raise your home’s value and bring down your carbon footprint. The biggest disadvantages are that solar panels can be expensive to install, you may not save as much if you don’t use a lot of electricity and it doesn’t work for all roof types and locations.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels can be a great investment for lots of homeowners, but truthfully, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your power bills are already fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.
How often do solar panels need to be replaced?
Though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they are completely unusable. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased by about 0.8% each year since installing them. You can choose to replace them after having them for that long or you can keep using them at a lower efficiency after that time.
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.