15 Best Solar Companies in Carol Stream, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Carol Stream based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for Carol Stream, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Carol Stream homeowner saves $1,273/year with solar panels
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Best Solar Companies in Carol Stream
When choosing between the best solar installers, Carol Stream homeowners have more options to choose from than ever before, which can be a lot to consider, but we’re here to make adopting solar energy less confusing. After 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar panel system, you can save about $15,000 on your utility bills.
There are lots of installers to choose from, but in this article, we’ll help you narrow down your options by recommending some of the best solar companies in Carol Stream.Continue reading to see our picks for the top solar companies in the city, or get connected to a vetted solar company near you right away by clicking the button below.
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 Carol Stream
SunPower by Sun N Us
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
YellowLite
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Illinois Solar Express, LLC
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
Reficiency Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
Kapital Electric, Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Phoenix Exteriors Roofing & Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
JD Pro Electric Inc
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
TruHome Pros Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
Greencore Solar, Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Unity Solar Group
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Financing Assistance
Semper Solr
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
GoSolar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
ilumen Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
Sunset Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Carol Stream
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Carol Stream 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 Carol Stream
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 Carol Stream
Even though solar panels can save you a good amount of money on power bills over time, it’s important to know the startup costs.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:
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you buy will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If you don’t need to maximize efficiency, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Carol Stream gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally generate enough energy to power your whole home, which affects how much your electricity bills will be.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to decrease your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and city may also have incentives and rebates that you can benefit from. Additionally, you can save about $15,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, before factoring in incentives.
- Electricity consumption: The average home in Carol Stream uses a decent amount of, and so may save on their energy bills.
There are lots of great benefits of solar in spite of the initial cost of installation. It can help the Earth and your bank account. Additionally, it can raise the value of your home, giving you even more benefits if you want to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in Carol Stream
Switching to solar power has plenty of wonderful benefits. Not only can it help protect the environment, but you can also save a decent amount of money on your installation with various government incentives.No matter what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will allow you to claim 0 of your project costs on your tax return, reducing the amount of taxes you owe that year. Plus, there may be some local incentives that stack with the ITC too. Our article on solar incentives has more information on the incentives you can find in Carol Stream.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Carol Stream
There are many reasons to make the switch to solar energy, like saving on utility bills and helping to lower your carbon footprint.But how much can installing solar panels actually help the environment? One thing to consider is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you spend lots of time commuting to work and have an electric vehicle, you can install solar panels on your home to power your EV and therefore help offset your carbon emissions.Once you go solar, your carbon emissions can be cut by about 90 pounds a year. Since solar power is plentiful and makes electricity without free from carbon dioxide emissions, installing solar panels is one easy step you can take to help protect the environment.
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 Carol Stream, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best near me?
The highest-rated local solar company in Carol Stream is SunPower by Sun N Us, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of making solar panels?
Producing solar panels requires chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be dangerous for the environment, which is the main downside of solar panels.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 16.5 years, but the exact period varies depending on the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
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.