12 Best Solar Companies in Hometown, IL (2023 Reviews)

We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 12 in Hometown based on:

  • Customer review scores
  • Service area for Hometown, IL
  • Company policies and services offered
  • Accreditations and certifications

Average Hometown homeowner saves $1,132/year with solar panels

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated May 04, 2023

Why you can trust EcoWatch

We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

Best Solar Companies in Hometown

As a homeowner or business owner in Hometown, you may be planning on switching to solar energy and curious about the best solar companies in your city. Solar could be a fantastic idea since it comes with many perks. Solar power isn't just good for the environment — your bank account will benefit too. Once you switch to solar power, you can save an average of $13,000 over 20 years, and this doesn't even include incentives.

In this article, we'll review the top Hometown solar installers so you can make the best choice for your home's solar energy needs. To get free quotes from the top solar companies in Hometown, click the "get quote" button below.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0

  • 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

★★★★★
4.5

  • Industry-leading in-house financing
  • Competitive pricing
  • Excellent reputation
  • Doesn't offer solar batteries

Best Warranty Coverage

Sunpro Solar

★★★★★
4.0

  • Industry-leading warranty coverage
  • Expansive service area
  • Some reported communication issues
  • No leases or PPAs

EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Hometown

Best National Provider
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

5.0/5

Average Cost

Read full review

SunPower

  • Pros icon Most efficient panels on the market
  • Pros icon National coverage
  • Pros icon Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
  • Pros icon Great warranty coverage
  • Con icon Expensive
  • Con icon Customer service varies by local dealer

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon Solar Batteries
  • Service icon EV Chargers
  • Service icon System Monitoring

Website: https://us.sunpower.com/
Best Solar Financing
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EcoWatch Rating

4.5/5

Average Cost

Read full review

Blue Raven Solar

  • Pros icon Industry-leading in-house financing
  • Pros icon Competitive pricing
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Doesn't offer solar batteries

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon System Monitoring

Website: https://blueravensolar.com/
Best Warranty Coverage
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EcoWatch Rating

4.0/5

Average Cost

Read full review

Sunpro Solar

  • Pros icon Industry-leading warranty coverage
  • Pros icon Expansive service area
  • Con icon Some reported communication issues
  • Con icon No leases or PPAs

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon Solar Batteries
  • Service icon EV Chargers
  • Service icon Energy-Efficiency Upgrades

Website: https://www.gosunpro.com/
Best for Leasing
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EcoWatch Rating

4.0/5

Average Cost

Sunrun

  • Pros icon Expansive service area
  • Pros icon Many financing options
  • Con icon Some reported issues with customer service
  • Con icon Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon Solar Batteries
  • Service icon EV Chargers
  • Service icon Energy-Efficiency Upgrades

Website: https://www.sunrun.com/
Best Social Impact
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.0/5

Average Cost

Palmetto Solar

  • Pros icon Expansive service area
  • Pros icon Makes charitable contributions
  • Pros icon Certified B Corp
  • Con icon No leases or PPAs
  • Con icon Quality of installation may vary by location

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon Solar Batteries
  • Service icon Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
  • Service icon Maintenance & Repairs

Website: https://palmetto.com/
Best Technology
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EcoWatch Rating

3.2/5

Average Cost

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Tesla Energy

  • Pros icon Price-match guarantee
  • Pros icon Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
  • Pros icon Best solar battery on the market
  • Con icon Some reported issues with customer service
  • Con icon Customer service varies by local dealer

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon Solar Batteries
  • Service icon EV Chargers
  • Service icon Solar Roof Shingles
  • Service icon System Monitoring

Website: https://www.tesla.com/energy
Best Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Solar Enterprises USA

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Outstanding Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Home installations
  • Service icon Tailored solutions
  • Service icon Expert panel installation

Website: http://solarenterprisesusa.com/
Address: Chicago, IL 60643
Phone: 3125740002
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

GO Solar

  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Outstanding Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Home installations
  • Service icon Expert panel installation
  • Service icon Tailored solutions
  • Service icon Energy storage solutions

Website: http://www.gosolarapplynow.com/
Address: Chicago, IL 60632
Phone: 3124814629
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Ailey Solar Electric, Inc.

  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Outstanding Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Expert panel installation
  • Service icon Tailored solutions
  • Service icon Home installations

Website: http://aileysolarelectric.com/
Address: Chicago, IL 60609
Phone: 7734921294
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Zahnsenergy

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Outstanding Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Home installations
  • Service icon Tailored solutions
  • Service icon Energy storage solutions
  • Service icon Expert panel installation
  • Service icon Business installations
  • Service icon Integrated roofing

Website: https://zahnsenergy.com/contact/
Address: Chicago, IL 60653
Phone: 1332E47thSt
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Windy City Solar Group

  • Pros icon Outstanding Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Integrated roofing
  • Service icon Business installations
  • Service icon Tailored solutions
  • Service icon Expert panel installation
  • Service icon Home installations

Website: https://www.windycitysolargroup.com/
Address: Berwyn, IL 60402
Phone: 7087378114
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Unity Solar Group Warehouse

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Outstanding Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Home installations
  • Service icon Energy storage solutions
  • Service icon Expert panel installation
  • Service icon Integrated roofing
  • Service icon Tailored solutions
  • Service icon Business installations

Website: http://unitysolargroup.com/
Address: Burr Ridge, IL 60527
Phone: 6308668468

Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Hometown

EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Hometown 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 Hometown


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 Hometown

Although solar panels can help save you money on utility bills over time, it's important to know the upfront costs. There are several factors you should consider when trying to figure out the overall cost and how much you can save, such as:

  • System size and type: Some models are more costly than others, so the one you get can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need, the more it'll cost.
  • Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the project cost. You can also save money on your power bills, which can lead to an average of $13,000 of savings over 20 years.
  • Where your home is: This influences the average daily sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
  • How much power your home consumes: Homes that use a lot of energy each month may call for more solar panels and, therefore, more upfront cost, but will also enjoy more savings over time.

There are many good benefits of solar despite the upfront cost of installation. It can help the Earth and your wallet. Plus, it can boost the value of your home, resulting in even more benefits if you choose to sell your home later.

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Solar Incentives in Hometown

Adopting solar power has lots of wonderful benefits. Not only can it help protect the Earth, but you can also save a good amount of money on your installation with various government incentives. There are several federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that may earn you a decent amount of money back after buying solar panels. You can learn about the incentives you can use in our article on solar incentives

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Hometown

There are a few big reasons why people want to invest in solar energy: for the financial and environmental benefits. But how much can installing solar panels actually affect the environment? The more energy your family uses, the the more the environment will benefit if you switch to solar as you won't have to use as much nonrenewable energy. In fact, if you make the switch to solar power, you could expect to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you'll likely recognize that there are many good things about adopting solar energy other than just saving money on bills. You can also help preserve the environment, which some would argue is priceless.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0

  • 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

★★★★★
4.5

  • Industry-leading in-house financing
  • Competitive pricing
  • Excellent reputation
  • Doesn't offer solar batteries

Best Warranty Coverage

Sunpro Solar

★★★★★
4.0

  • Industry-leading warranty coverage
  • Expansive service area
  • Some reported communication issues
  • No leases or PPAs

EcoWatch's Hometown, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs

Which solar installation company is the best in Hometown?

The top local solar company in Hometown is SunRise Solar Attic Fans, with a rating of 5.00 stars.

What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?

Solar panels can be harmful for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the construction. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing needs a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.

Is it worth putting solar panels on my roof?

Solar panels can be a beneficial investment for most homeowners, but truthfully, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your power bills are already reasonably low, solar panels might not be for you.

How often do solar panels have to be replaced?

On average, the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a higher amount of energy production.

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.