15 Best Solar Companies in Crystal Lake, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Crystal Lake based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Crystal Lake, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Crystal Lake homeowner saves $1,109/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Crystal Lake
If you’re a homeowner looking to make the most of the solar incentives in Crystal Lake, it can be hard to narrow down which company to decide on. But, the hard work is worth it since adopting solar power is typically a great idea. While solar power is a large investment, you’ll be able to make the cost back and then some, all while doing your part for the environment. In fact, you could end up with savings of about $13,000 over 20 years.
As you start your search for the best solar companies in Crystal Lake, you might see that there are many providers to choose between. So, we’ve organized an expertly curated list of the top solar companies in the area.If you want to receive free, no-obligation quotes from the best Crystal Lake solar installers, 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 Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Crystal Lake
SunPower by Sun N Us
ed_content- customer_service
- price_transparency
- free_inspection
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Consultation
ilumen Solar
- award_winning
- price_transparency
- ed_content
- customer_service
- free_inspection
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- ed_content
- customer_service
- free_inspection
- price_transparency
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Semper Solr
- free_inspection
- customer_service
- price_transparency
- ed_content
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Phoenix Exteriors Roofing & Solar
- ed_content
- free_inspection
- customer_service
- price_transparency
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Midwest Solutions Inc
- customer_service
- free_inspection
- ed_content
- price_transparency
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Certasun
- ed_content
- price_transparency
- customer_service
- free_inspection
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
GoSolar
- ed_content
- customer_service
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Solar Brite Ltd
- free_inspection
- price_transparency
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
Kapital Electric, Inc.
- timeliness
- ed_content
- free_inspection
- price_transparency
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
Smart Sky Solar
- ed_content
- free_inspection
- price_transparency
- customer_service
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Rethink Electric
- price_transparency
- customer_service
- ed_content
- free_inspection
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
JD Pro Electric Inc
- ed_content
- free_inspection
- price_transparency
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
TruHome Pros Solar
- price_transparency
- ed_content
- customer_service
- free_inspection
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Illinois Solar Express, LLC
- timeliness
- customer_service
- ed_content
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Crystal Lake
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Crystal Lake 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 Crystal Lake
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 Crystal Lake
For many people considering switching to solar, the decision of which solar company to go with comes down to costs.There are quite a few factors you should take into consideration when trying to determine the overall cost and how much you can save, such as:
- The kind of solar panels you can purchase: This is dependent on how much you’re willing to invest upfront.
- Electricity consumption: The average home in Crystal Lake uses a decent amount of, and as a result may save on their energy bills.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your roof doesn’t see much direct sunlight, your solar system won’t be able to generate as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on electric bills than a roof that gets a lot of sunlight.
- Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you deduct 0 of your total installation cost, your 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 system, too.
Though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount over time. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, including the angle of your roof and your current power bills.
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Adopting clean energy can substantially impact both the environment and your power bills. To see how much, check out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Crystal Lake, IL.
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Solar Incentives in Crystal Lake
Although solar power is typically a big investment, it can save you much money in the long term because of lower utility bills and government incentives.These incentives mostly consist of cash rebates, tax breaks and/or solar renewable energy credits. They can cut how much you pay for going solar by 0, upwards of 50% in some cases. You can learn about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Crystal Lake
Installing solar panels is a profound way to do what you can for a more environmentally-friendly future.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Crystal Lake, though. In Crystal Lake, where the energy generation can be rather dirty, going solar can have a huge impact on the planet since solar power is a renewable source of energy.Since solar panels don’t release CO2 emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they’re a good substitute for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you’ll no doubt find that there are many good things about 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 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 Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Crystal Lake, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar panel company in Crystal Lake?
The top local solar company in Crystal Lake is SunPower by Sun N Us, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are a few of the pros and cons of installing solar panels?
The greatest advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, for some, 100% erase your electricity bills, improve the value of your home and bring down your carbon footprint. The biggest disadvantages are that solar panels can be costly 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 house?
Solar panels can be a fruitful investment for most homeowners, but truthfully, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your electricity bills are already reasonably low, solar panels might not be for you.
When is the best time of year to install solar panels?
You can put up solar panels whenever it's convenient for you, but consider doing it in the winter when the demand is less. With fewer homeowners contracting installers, you could potentially see quicker installation times and more savings.
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.