15 Best Solar Companies in Vernon Hills, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Vernon Hills based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for Vernon Hills, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Vernon Hills homeowner saves $1,144/year with solar panels
Updated February 01, 2024
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Vernon Hills
Are you looking for energy freedom in Vernon Hills? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding investment since there are many benefits when you switch to solar power. Fortunately, there are lots of solar companies in Vernon Hills due to encouraging leadership and a growing clean energy market.
In this article, we’ll help you narrow down the best companies in your area.To get a sense of what it could cost to install solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to be connected to a certified installer near you.
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 Vernon Hills
SunPower by Sun N Us
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Consultation
YellowLite
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Residential Panels
Certasun
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Maintenance
- EV Charger
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Residential Panels
- Battery Storage
- Full-Service
ilumen Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Commercial Panels
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Maintenance
- Residential Panels
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Skilled Repairs
Phoenix Exteriors Roofing & Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Full-Service
Smart Sky Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Consultation
- Residential Panels
- Battery Storage
Greentech Renewables North Chicago
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
SolarW - Solar Panel Installer
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
- Residential Panels
Kapital Electric, Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- EV Charger
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Consultation
- Tesla Powerwall
Semper Solr
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Residential Panels
- Financing Assistance
Midwest Solutions Inc
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Maintenance
- Commercial Panels
TruHome Pros Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Full-Service
JD Pro Electric Inc
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
- EV Charger
Windfree Solar Co
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Consultation
- Commercial Panels
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Vernon Hills
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Vernon Hills 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 Vernon Hills
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 Vernon Hills
Even though solar panels can help save you a decent chunk of change on power bills over time, it’s necessary to consider the upfront costs.There are quite a few factors you should consider when trying to determine costs and your potential savings, such as:
- Your home's orientation toward the sun: This, along with how your roof is set up, affects affect how much power your solar panels can generate.
- The model of solar panels you can afford: This depends on how much you’re willing to invest upfront.
- Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your utility bills, which can lead to an average of $14,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Energy consumption: Installing solar panels may be an expensive investment for homes that don’t use too much energy each month.
As a result of solar panels decreasing in cost as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a worthwhile investment for most homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Vernon Hills
One of the good things about installing a solar panel system is earning federal and potentially state incentives.Regardless of what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will let you claim 0 of how much you paid for your solar installation when you file taxes, reducing the amount of taxes you owe that year. Plus, there may be some local incentives that can save you some extra money too. Check out our article on solar incentives to find out what incentives you can benefit from.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Vernon Hills
If you want to add solar panels to your home, one of the major reasons why may be to lower your carbon footprint.But how much can using solar energy instead of traditional energy actually affect the environment? The average person has a considerable carbon footprint. Between their car, which is responsible for over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year, and energy for their home, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to do. Switching to solar is a simple thing you can do to help.Because solar panels don’t release CO2 emissions into the atmosphere when producing electricity, they’re a good alternative to traditional energy sources. In fact, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you’ll no doubt recognize that there are many good things about adopting solar power other than just saving money on electricity. You can also help protect 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 Vernon Hills, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar company in Vernon Hills?
The highest-rated local solar company in Vernon Hills is SunPower by Sun N Us, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are a few of the major advantages and disadvantages of switching to solar?
The advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, for some, totally erase your electricity bills, raise your home’s value and bring down your carbon footprint. The biggest disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save as much if you don’t use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my home?
Solar panels can be a fruitful investment for lots of homeowners, but truthfully, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your energy bills are already reasonably low, solar panels might not be for you.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
For the most part, solar panels are about 15 to 25% efficient, which means they can convert that percentage of the sun’s energy into usable electricity.
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.