15 Best Solar Companies in Lake Forest, IL (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Lake Forest based on:
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Customer review scores - Service area for Lake Forest, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Lake Forest homeowner saves $1,144/year with solar panels
Updated September 15, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Lake Forest
Looking for energy freedom in Lake Forest? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding investment since you can take advantage of a lot of benefits after adopting solar power. Since Lake Forest is a city with great potential for solar power, it's no wonder you're researching installing solar panels.
There are tons of installers to choose from, but in this article, we'll help you get a handle on all your options by recommending some of the best solar companies in Lake Forest. To get free quotes from the top-rated solar companies in Lake Forest, click the "get quote" button below.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Lake Forest
SunPower by Sun N Us
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Reliable Customer Support - Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Expert panel installation - Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
YellowLite
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
Smart Sky Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
Solar Werks LLC - Solar Panel Installation
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
Greentech Renewables North Chicago
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Business installations
Certasun
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
GoSolar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
GRNE Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- End-to-end services
- Business installations
- Energy storage solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
- Professional reinstallation
E-GSI Energy Glazed Systems Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
Solar Panels Northbrook
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
Semper Solr
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
93Energy Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
ilumen Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Integrated roofing
- Energy storage solutions
- Business installations
SolarWerks Solar Panel Installer LLC
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
Solar Spring & Wire Form Co
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Lake Forest
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest
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 Lake Forest
For many readers, the decision of which solar installer to go with comes down to prices. The installation cost is just one important factor you should consider when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:
- Your power bills: This will influence your savings. In Lake Forest, the average resident can save about $900 a year on their electricity bills.
- Your location: This influences how much sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- Your income and budget: This guides what type of solar panels you can purchase.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to reduce your taxes by 30% of the project cost. Your state and even local utility companies may also have various incentives that you can benefit from. Additionally, you can save about $14,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.
As a result of solar panels decreasing in cost as well as various solar incentives, they are a worthwhile investment for the majority of homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Lake Forest
Switching to solar power has lots of considerable benefits. Not only can it help preserve the environment, but you can also save a decent amount of money on your installation with various government incentives. These incentives usually include cash rebates, tax breaks and/or solar renewable energy credits. They can reduce how much you pay for going solar by 30%, upwards of 50% depending on where you live. Take a look at our article on solar incentives to see what incentives are available to you.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Lake Forest
There are lots of reasons to trade traditional energy for solar power, like saving money on electricity bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint. Something many people might be wondering about is how much can they really help save the environment by switching to solar power anyway? In a city like Lake Forest where energy use is rather high, making the switch to solar power is a fantastic plan for households who are worried about the state of the planet. In fact, if you install solar panels, you could expect to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. If you care about the environment, you'll likely understand that there are many benefits of adopting solar power other than just saving money on bills. You can also help preserve the environment, which some would argue is priceless.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
EcoWatch's Lake Forest, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar installer in Lake Forest?
In Lake Forest, ilumen Solar is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.01 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your home.
Are solar panels actually good for the environment?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of 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.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 13.4 years, but the exact period is influenced by local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
Solar panel efficiency is the amount of solar energy that is converted into electricity. Most panels today have an efficiency rating between 15 and 20%. If your panels are more efficient, you'll need less of them for your home's energy needs.
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.