6 Best Solar Companies in Woodside, IL (2024 Reviews)

We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 6 in Woodside based on:

  • Customer review scores
  • Service area for Woodside, IL
  • Company policies and services offered
  • Accreditations and certifications

Average Woodside homeowner saves $1,344/year with solar panels

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated April 21, 2024

Why you can trust EcoWatch

We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

Best Solar Companies in Woodside

If you’re looking for the best solar companies in Woodside, sorting through so many options can be demanding, but it can pay off since switching to solar power can offer so many great benefits. On average, you can save $16,000 over 20 years after installing a solar panel system. And because solar panels last about 25 to 30 years, the amount of money you'll save in the long run will be well above that overall.


The cost of installing solar panels can change substantially according to your home’s infrastructure and your household energy usage.To get an idea of how much you might pay to put up a solar panel system on your roof, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the top solar companies in Woodside by clicking the "get quote" button below.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0
  • 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

★★★★★
4.5
  • Industry-leading in-house financing
  • Competitive pricing
  • Excellent reputation
  • Doesn't offer solar batteries

Best for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0
  • 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 Woodside

Best Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.9/5

Route 66 Solar

  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Grid-Tied Solar System
  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon System Decommissioning
  • Service icon Financing Assistance

Website: https://route66solar.com/
Address: 1 W Old State Capitol Plaza Suite 505, Springfield, IL 62701
Phone: 2176526533
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

WindSolarUSA, Inc.

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Permit Assistance
  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Financing Assistance
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Grid-Tied Solar System

Website: https://windsolarusa.com/
Address: 104 N 6th St, Springfield, IL 62701
Phone: 2178254206
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

EFS Energy

  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Financing Assistance
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Panel Installation

Website: http://www.efsenergy.com/contact/
Address: 920 S Spring St Suite 2600, Springfield, IL 62704
Phone: 2179939801
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

IQ Group Inc

  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Permit Assistance
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Consultation

Website: http://iqgroup.us/
Address: 3888 N Peoria Rd, Springfield, IL 62702
Phone: 2172196006
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Skydrop Energy

  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Permit Assistance
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Panel Installation

Website: http://www.skydropenergy.com/
Address: 24049 Burr Oaks Ln, Athens, IL 62613
Phone: 2175569269
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

SunSent Solar

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Skilled Repairs
  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Financing Assistance
  • Service icon Consultation

Website: https://www.sunsent.com/
Address: 150 Lewis Park Dr Suite H, Mt Zion, IL 62549
Phone: 2178597080

Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Woodside

EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Woodside 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 Woodside


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 Woodside

The cost of putting up a solar panel system has dropped immensely over the past several years, but it’s still a substantial investment for most homeowners.The installation cost is just one important factor you should consider when looking into getting solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:

  • 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 state or local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that can help you save even more. Aside from incentives, you can save an average of $16,000 over 20 years with your solar panels, too.
  • How much power your home consumes: Households that consume plenty of energy each month may need more solar panels and, therefore, more upfront cost, but will also benefit more over time.
  • The amount of sunlight your city gets: Because of Woodside’s high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a decent amount on your energy bills.
  • The model of solar panel system you can purchase: This is dependent on what your budget is.

Solar is a profitable investment for most homeowners. You can make your own electricity instead of paying for it from the grid and make use of solar incentives, all while helping protect the environment.

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Solar Incentives in Woodside

Although a solar power system is typically a large investment, it can save you a considerable amount of money in the long term due to lower power bills and government incentives.There are a lot of federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that let you earn a decent amount of money in return after installing a solar panel system. You can learn about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Woodside

One of the reasons so many people are thinking of adopting solar energy is to help reduce their environmental impact.A question many might be thinking about is how much can they really help save the environment by going solar anyway? As reported by the EPA, electricity production is the second greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels. Using solar power can help lower that statistic in a city like Woodside that generates a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions each year.Once you go solar, your carbon footprint can be lowered by about 100 pounds each year. The advantages of solar power are plentiful — just like solar power is! That's why so many people have been happy with using solar energy.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0
  • 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

★★★★★
4.5
  • Industry-leading in-house financing
  • Competitive pricing
  • Excellent reputation
  • Doesn't offer solar batteries

Best for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Many financing options
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

EcoWatch's Woodside, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs

What is the best solar installer in Woodside?

In Woodside, Route 66 Solar is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.90 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your house.

Are solar panels really good for the environment?

Solar panels can be detrimental for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals when they’re made. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.

Is it worth putting solar panels on my house?

Solar panels can be a good investment for most homeowners, but honestly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your energy bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.

What is the efficiency of 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 fewer 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.