18 Best Solar Companies in Knox, IL (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 18 in Knox based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Knox, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Knox homeowner saves $1,119/year with solar panels
Updated May 04, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Knox
When deciding on the best solar panel installers, Knox 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 adopting solar energy less confusing. With high amounts of average daily sunlight in Knox, the solar industry is doing fairly well. An overlooked reason for this growth has been national incentives that help with residential and commercial solar panel installation.
If you're considering going solar, the first step you should take is to find the best solar companies in Knox and compare quotes. The great news is we took the time and came up with a list of the best solar companies so you don't have to. To start getting free quotes from the best solar companies in Knox, you can click "get quote" below.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Knox
Average Cost
SunPower
-
Most efficient panels on the market - National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
-
Expensive - Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
-
Solar Panels - Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- System Monitoring
Average Cost
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- System Monitoring
Average Cost
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
Average Cost
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
Average Cost
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
- Maintenance & Repairs
Average Cost
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
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Roof Shingles
- System Monitoring
Spoon River Electric Cooperative
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
Sun Collectors
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
Solar Panels
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
ROUTE 66 SOLAR
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Integrated roofing
SOLAR PANTHER
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Skilled repairs
- Integrated roofing
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
Solar Heating & A/C
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Skilled repairs
- Home installations
Solar Grids Quad Cities
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
Sunrun Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
Quad City Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
Solar Plastics-Quad Cities
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
Solar Vision
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
Iowa Solar
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled repairs
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Knox
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Knox 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 Knox
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 Knox
Even though solar panels can help save you a good amount of money on electricity bills over time, it's necessary to take into consideration the startup costs. Some significant things that affect how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- Average daily sunlight: Since Knox gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally generate enough energy to power your whole home, which affects how much your solar panels can save you on your electricity bills.
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you want will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If you don't need to maximize efficiency, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- How much you spend on energy: The average family in Knox spends around $890 a year on energy alone, so you could be looking at that much in savings.
- Incentives: Something that can save you money on your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that's equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your power bills, which can result in an average of $13,000 of savings over 20 years.
There are many great benefits of solar in spite of the initial cost of installation. It can help the Earth and your wallet. In addition, it can raise the value of your home, resulting in even more benefits if you decide to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in Knox
Since solar power is a cleaner source of energy than fossil fuels, there are quite a few government incentives available to encourage people to make the switch. You qualify for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your solar panels. You can also potentially stack the ITC with other local rebates and benefits. You can learn about the incentives you can use in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Knox
There are tons of reasons to make the switch to solar energy, like saving some money on electricity bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint. But how much can installing solar panels actually affect the environment? The amount of energy you use is a key factor to think about. The more energy your household consumes, the bigger your impact when you go solar. Though solar panel manufacturing releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by considerably reducing the amount of CO2 you would have been responsible for if you still used traditional energy. In Knox, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year with solar panels. For homeowners who are worried about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for the offset carbon emissions.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Knox, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best in Knox?
The best local solar company in Knox is Mobius Solar, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
Are solar panels actually good for the environment?
Solar panels can be detrimental for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels requires a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after buying solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 13.7 years, but the exact period depends on local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
How long do solar panels last?
On average, the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency decreases by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a larger 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.