15 Best Solar Companies in West Chicago, IL (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in West Chicago based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for West Chicago, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average West Chicago homeowner saves $1,406/year with solar panels
Updated September 15, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in West Chicago
Looking for energy freedom in West Chicago? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding project since there are lots of benefits when you go solar. Due to its moderate amount of average daily sunlight, West Chicago has a good amount of solar growth, so several of the best solar companies in the nation have expanded to there to help residents adopt renewable energy.
In this article, we'll help you narrow down the top options in your area. To get an estimate of what it could cost to put solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to get a quote from a certified installer near you.
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 West Chicago
SunPower by Sun N Us
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Clear Pricing Policy - Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
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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
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
Service Solar Solutions
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Skilled repairs
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Reficiency Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Energy storage solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Skilled repairs
Safeguard Solar LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
SunHeat Solar, Inc.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
Illinois Solar Express, LLC
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
Dominion Lighting & Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
Greencore Solar, Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
Phoenix Exteriors Roofing & Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
- End-to-end services
Semper Solr
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
TruHome Pros Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
- End-to-end services
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
Kapital Electric, Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
Rethink Electric
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Energy storage solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- End-to-end services
Headline Solar
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Integrated roofing
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in West Chicago
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in West Chicago 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 West Chicago
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 West Chicago
The cost of putting up a solar panel system has decreased greatly over the past few years, but it's still a large investment for most homeowners. Some key things that influence how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- Your income and budget: This affects what model of solar panels you can buy.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: This, plus your roof configuration, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can generate.
- Your energy bills: This will impact how much you can save. In West Chicago, the average resident can save about $1,100 a year on their electricity bills.
- Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you receive a tax credit curretnly worth 30% of your overall installation cost, your state or local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that can help you save even more. Not including incentives, you can save an average of $17,000 over the first 20 years with your solar panels, too.
There are lots of great benefits of solar despite the upfront cost of installation. It can help the Earth and your finances. Additionally, it can increase the value of your home, resulting in even more benefits if you want to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in West Chicago
In an effort to increase the adoption of solar power, federal, state and local governments — and even some utility companies — offer incentives to help make switching to solar power more economically viable and accessible. There are quite a few federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that earn anywhere from 30% to 50% of your money back after installing solar panels. You can learn about the incentives available to you in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in West Chicago
One of the reasons so many people consider adopting solar energy is to help reduce their environmental impact. But you may be curious — how much exactly can you help by making the switch to solar? In a city like West Chicago where energy use is rather high, going solar is a fantastic plan for those who care about the planet. Even though making solar panels emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by considerably decreasing the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used nonrenewable energy. In West Chicago, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. The advantages of solar power are infinite — just like solar power is! That's why so many people have been happy with using solar energy.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
EcoWatch's West Chicago, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar panel installer in West Chicago?
The best local solar company in West Chicago is ilumen Solar, with a rating of 4.01 stars.
Are solar panels really 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 recycle safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing requires a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels call for a large upfront investment that usually costs at least ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a range of factors like the cost of electricity near you and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
What is the best type of solar panel?
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 desired energy output.
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.