6 Best Solar Companies in Chatham, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 6 in Chatham based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Chatham, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Chatham homeowner saves $1,274/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Chatham
When deciding on the best solar panel installers, Chatham homeowners have more options than ever before, which can be overwhelming, but we’re here to make switching to solar energy less confusing. One of the pros of residing in Chatham is you have access to many of the best solar panel installation companies in the country.
There are lots of installers to consider, but in this article, we’ll help you narrow down your options by recommending some of the best solar companies in Chatham.We advise shopping around to get quite a few quotes and comparing them to find the best installer for your home. To get free, no-obligation quotes from trusted solar companies in Chatham, click the link 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 Chatham
Route 66 Solar
Clear Pricing Policy- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Grid-Tied Solar System- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
- Financing Assistance
WindSolarUSA, Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
EFS Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
IQ Group Inc
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Skydrop Energy
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
SunSent Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Chatham
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Chatham 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 Chatham
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 Chatham
For many people, the decision of which solar company to go with depends on how much it’ll cost.The overall price and potential savings vary depending on a few key factors such as:
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who purchase and install a solar energy system this year can save 0 of their solar installation costs by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $15,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years not including incentives.
- The amount of sunlight your city gets: Because of Chatham’s high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a decent amount on your power bills.
- The kind of solar panels you want: More efficient models have higher prices, so that will affect your budget for your solar project.
- Your home's power bills: Based on the fairly high monthly energy bills in Chatham, you could save about $850 a year with solar.
So is a solar panel system worth it? Whether you want to decrease your energy bills, carbon emissions or both, solar panels are a solid investment for many Chatham homeowners.
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Adopting clean energy can considerably impact both the environment and your utility bills. To see how much, use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Chatham, IL.
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Solar Incentives in Chatham
There are many good reasons why adopting solar power is beneficial. One of them consists of some government incentives you can take advantage of.Regardless of what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will let you claim 0 of your project costs when you file taxes, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some state and city incentives that can save you some extra money too. Check out our article on solar incentives to see what incentives you can benefit from.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Chatham
There are a few main reasons why homeowners are interested in solar energy: to help their wallet and the environment.A question many homeowners might be thinking about is how much can they really help protect the environment by switching to solar power anyway? One thing to keep in mind is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you have a long commute time and have an electric vehicle, you can install solar panels on your home to power your EV and therefore help offset your carbon emissions.In fact, if you install solar panels, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. If you care about the environment, you’ll no doubt find that there are many benefits of adopting solar energy other than just saving money on bills. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is more valuable.
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 Chatham, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar installation company in Chatham?
In Chatham, Route 66 Solar is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.90 stars, so it's a good choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your home.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?
The greatest advantages of solar power are that it can reduce or, in some cases, 100% erase your electricity bills, raise the value of your home and reduce 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 putting solar panels on my home?
Solar panels can be a good investment for many homeowners, but honestly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your electricity bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.
How long do solar panels last?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely. What this means is their energy production will have decreased by about 0.8% each year since installing them. You can choose to replace them once you've had 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.