15 Best Solar Companies in Winnetka, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Winnetka based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for Winnetka, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Winnetka homeowner saves $1,232/year with solar panels
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Best Solar Companies in Winnetka
Hoping to go solar but trying to figure out which company would be the best one for your needs? Although it can be difficult to find a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many good benefits. Since the cost of energy is increasing each year, many homeowners are planning on switching to solar to save money on electricity for their homes.
Here, we’ll narrow down some of the best solar companies in Winnetka to make your decision a little bit easier.To get free quotes from the top solar companies in Winnetka, 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
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 Winnetka
SunPower by Sun N Us
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
93Energy Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Windfree Solar Co
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Certasun
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
RxSun
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
FreeWorld Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
Kapital Electric, Inc.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
WindSoleil Solar and Wind Energy Services
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
Smart Sky Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Winnetka
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Winnetka 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 Winnetka
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 Winnetka
For a lot of homeowners, whether or not to invest in solar panels depends the most on the cost.The installation cost is just one important factor you should bear in mind when looking into getting solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:
- Your income and budget: This determines what kind of solar panels you can get.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Winnetka gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally generate enough energy to power your whole home, which influences how much your solar panels can save you on your electricity bills.
- average energy usage: The more energy your home uses on average and the greater your current electricity bills are, the more benefits you’ll see from going solar.
- Incentives: Those who purchase and install a solar energy system this year can save 0 of their installation costs by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $15,000 on your utility bills over 20 years not including incentives.
Solar is a worthwhile investment for most homeowners. You can make your own energy instead of paying for it from the grid and benefit from solar incentives and rebates, all while helping protect the planet.
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Solar Incentives in Winnetka
Since solar power is a cleaner source of energy than burning fossil fuels, there are various government incentives in place to encourage its adoption.There are a lot of federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that let you earn anywhere from 0 to 50% of your money in return after installing solar panels. You can learn about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Winnetka
If you want to add solar panels to your home, one of the major reasons why may be to reduce your carbon footprint.Something many might be thinking about is how much can they really help the environment by going solar anyway? One thing to consider is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you spend a lot of time in the car and have an electric vehicle, you can install solar panels on your home to power your EV and therefore help offset your carbon emissions.In fact, if you adopt solar power, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. The good things about solar power are infinite — just like solar power is! That's why so many homeowners have been happy with committing to solar.
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 Winnetka, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar panel installer in Winnetka?
The best local solar company in Winnetka is SunPower by Sun N Us, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panels?
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. Making solar panels requires a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Is it worth putting solar panels on my home?
Solar panels call for a considerable 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 how much you pay for electricity and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
How efficient are solar panels?
Solar panel efficiency is the amount of solar energy that is converted into electricity. Most panels today have an efficiency rating of about 15 to 25%. If your panels are more efficient, you'll need less of them to meet 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.