9 Best Solar Companies in Knox, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 9 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
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Knox
If you’re a homeowner looking to take advantage of the solar incentives in Knox, it can be difficult to narrow down which company to decide on. But, the hard work is worth it since switching to solar power is typically a great choice. One of the key reasons people living in Knox, where the average energy bill is high, plan on going solar is to lower their monthly bills.
The cost of installing solar panels can change substantially based on your home’s infrastructure and your overall energy usage.If you’d like to get free, no-obligation quotes from the best Knox solar installers, you can click the button below to learn more.
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 Knox
Sunrun Solar
Reliable Customer Support- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
Sun Collectors
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- System Decommissioning
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
SOLAR PANTHER
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
ROUTE 66 SOLAR
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- System Decommissioning
Solar Grids Quad Cities
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Quad City Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- System Decommissioning
Iowa Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
Halo Solar LLC
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Century Electric & Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
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
For the majority of homeowners, whether or not you should invest in solar energy boils down to the cost.Some important factors that influence the cost of installing solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time are:
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you get will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive upfront but can also lead to more savings 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.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, lets you deduct 0 of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your federal taxes. In addition, not including incentives, you can save about $13,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- The amount of sunlight your house gets: Because of Knox’s high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a decent amount on your electricity bills.
- Electricity consumption: The average household in Knox uses a decent amount of, and therefore may save on their energy bills.
Even though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more over time. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, like the size of your house and your energy consumption.
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Solar Incentives in Knox
One of the great things about installing a solar panel system is receiving government incentives.In addition to the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some local programs, which in the majority of cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you can save even more. You can learn about the incentives available to you in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Knox
There are tons of reasons to trade traditional energy for solar energy, like saving on utility bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint.A question many might be wondering about is how much can they really help the environment by switching to solar power anyway? If your household consumes a lot of energy, you can impact the environment even more by switching to solar energy.Since solar panels don’t release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they’re a good alternative to nonrenewable energy sources. In fact, you could expect to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. The perks of solar power are abundant — just like solar power is! That's why so many people have been happy with using solar energy.
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 Knox, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best near me?
In Knox, Sunrun Solar is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.70 stars, so it's a good choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your roof.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Manufacturing solar panels needs to use chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be harmful for the environment, which is the main drawback of solar panels.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 18.8 years, but the exact period depends on local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
What are the different types of solar panels?
There are three main types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. As for efficiency and price, monocrystalline has the highest for both, then polycrystalline, and then thin-film. The best choice for you is highly influenced by your roof layout, how much you're willing to spend and how much efficiency you're looking for.
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.