7 Best Solar Companies in Urbana, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 7 in Urbana based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Urbana, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Average Urbana homeowner saves $1,171/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Urbana
When looking for the best solar companies in Urbana, digging through hundreds of options can be intimidating, but it can pay off since adopting solar power can offer so many great benefits. You may have to spend a decent amount of money upfront for solar panels, but the switch will save you money on your energy bills in the long term. In fact, you can potentially save about $14,000 over 20 years.
If you’re thinking about going solar, the first step you should take is to find the best solar companies in Urbana and compare quotes. That’s why we took the time and put together a list of the best solar companies for you.To start getting free quotes from the best solar companies in Urbana, 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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Urbana
SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC
Reliable Customer Support- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Financing Assistance
New Prairie Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Harvest Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
SunSent Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
Accutek Solar
- Family-Operated Business
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Urbana
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Urbana 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 Urbana
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 Urbana
For most homeowners, the decision to invest in solar panels depends the most on the cost.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 home's power bills: With high monthly electric bills in Urbana, you could save about $850 a year with solar.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, lets you deduct 0 of the cost of your solar system installation from your taxes. Plus, not including incentives, you can save about $14,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Urbana gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally produce enough energy to power your whole home, which influences how much your electricity bills will be.
- How much power your household needs: If your household regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from going solar.
There are lots of wonderful benefits of solar in spite of the initial cost of installation. It can help the environment and your bank account. In addition, it can increase the value of your home, giving you even more benefits if you decide to sell your home later.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
For an estimate of both how much you could save and impact the Earth by installing solar panels, you can play around with the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Urbana, IL.
| {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} -year savings | {{ solarcalc.total_savings()|currency }} |
| Estimated cost | {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }} |
| Estimated incentives | {{ solarcalc.incentive_savings() | currency }} |
| Payback period | {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years |
| CO2 emissions prevented | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()|number:0 }} lbs |
| Miles driven equivalent | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()/0.78|number:0 }} mi |
Switching to solar in {{ solarcalc.name }} can save you {{ solarcalc.total_savings() | currency }} over the course of {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} years.
Solar Incentives in Urbana
Because solar power is better for the environment than traditional energy sources, there are various government incentives in place to encourage people to make the switch.Regardless of where you live, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you claim 0 of your project costs on your tax return, reducing the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some state and city incentives that can save you some extra money too. Our article on solar incentives goes over more information on the incentives you can find in Urbana.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Urbana
If you’re considering adding solar panels to your home, one of the major reasons why may be to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.But you may be curious – how much exactly can you help by using solar power? For those who want to help cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, switching to solar power is a no-brainer, especially since Urbana produces a very high amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation.In fact, if you adopt solar power, you could lower your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. Since solar energy is abundant and makes electricity without CO2 emissions, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help protect the planet.
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
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Urbana, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar panel installer in Urbana?
The highest-rated local solar company in Urbana is SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC, with a rating of 4.80 stars.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lets you spend less on your electricity bills, it’s good for the environment, and it can give you a significant return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t produce electricity at night, the startup costs are high and solar panels aren’t always aesthetically pleasing.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after getting solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 18.0 years, but the exact period varies depending on the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
What is solar panel capacity and how much do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is how much energy the panels can generate under ideal conditions (a sunny day around noon). The average household needs between 20 and 35 panels to cover how much energy they need.
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.