8 Best Solar Companies in St. Joseph, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 8 in St. Joseph based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for St. Joseph, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average St. Joseph homeowner saves $1,281/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in St. Joseph
Hoping to obtain energy freedom in St. Joseph? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding course of action since you can enjoy many perks after adopting solar power. The average home can save $15,000 over 20 years after installing a solar panel system. And since solar panels last about 25 to 30 years, your total savings will be well above that overall.
As you start your search for the best solar companies in St. Joseph, you might notice that there are a lot of providers to choose from. So, we’ve put together a curated list of the top solar companies in the area.To help you figure out if solar panels are something you should get for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in St. Joseph by clicking the button below.
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 St. Joseph
SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC
Reliable Customer Support- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Financing Assistance- Panel Installation
New Prairie Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
Harvest Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Accutek Solar
- Family-Operated Business
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
SunSent Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
One Planet Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in St. Joseph
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph
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 St. Joseph
For many people considering switching to solar, the decision of which solar installer to hire comes down to total costs.Some key things that determine the cost and possible savings include:
- Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you receive a tax credit curretnly worth 0 of your total installation cost, your local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that can help you save even more. Excluding incentives, you can save an average of $15,000 over the first 20 years with your system, too.
- The model of solar panel system you can purchase: This hinges on what your budget is.
- Average daily sunlight: Since St. Joseph gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally produce enough energy to power your whole home, which impacts how much your electricity bills will be.
- Electricity consumption: The average household in St. Joseph uses a decent amount of, and so may save on their energy bills.
Even though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount in the long term. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, like the kind of solar panels you get and your current power bills.
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Solar Incentives in St. Joseph
Adopting solar power has plenty of considerable benefits. Not only can it help protect the environment, but you can also save a decent amount of money on your installation with various government incentives.These incentives normally consist of cash rebates, tax benefits and/or solar renewable energy credits. They can reduce how much you end up spending on going solar by 0, upwards of 50% depending on where you live. For more information about incentives for homeowners in St. Joseph, check out our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in St. Joseph
Many want to do what they can to help protect the environment, which for many is the prime reason for installing solar panels.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in St. Joseph, though. The more energy your family uses, the better off the planet will be when you switch to solar as you won’t have to burn as many fossil fuels.In St. Joseph, the average person can reduce their carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year once they go solar. If you care about the environment, you’ll no doubt recognize 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 invaluable.
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 St. Joseph, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar company in St. Joseph?
In St. Joseph, SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.80 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your home.
What are the biggest pros and cons of switching to solar?
The advantages of solar power are that it can reduce or, for some, 100% eradicate your electricity bills, improve your home’s value and bring down your carbon footprint. The biggest disadvantages are that solar panels can be costly to install, you may not save a lot if you don’t use a lot of electricity and it doesn’t work for all roof types and locations.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a fruitful investment for many homeowners, but frankly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your power bills are already fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.
How long do solar panels last?
Although the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased by about 0.8% each year since installing them. You can decide to replace them after having them for that long or you can keep using them at a lower efficiency after that time.
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.