15 Best Solar Companies in Darien, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Darien based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Darien, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Average Darien homeowner saves $1,107/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Darien
Choosing the right solar panel installation company for your house is a huge decision, but it's one that can reap a lot of rewards in Darien. While solar power is a large investment, you’ll be able to make the cost back and then some, all while living more sustainably. In fact, you could look forward to saving about $13,000 over 20 years.
If you want to take advantage of the many perks of solar, we can help you narrow down your options to find the Darien solar installer that’s right for you.To see how much you would pay to put up solar panels on your roof, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the top solar companies in Darien by clicking the "get quote" 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 Darien
SunPower by Sun N Us
Reliable Customer Support- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Panel Installation
YellowLite
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Illinois Solar Express, LLC
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Reficiency Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
JD Pro Electric Inc
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Unity Solar Group
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Consultation
Ailey Solar Electric, Inc.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Kapital Electric, Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
WindSoleil Solar and Wind Energy Services
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
Summit Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
SolarShift
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Community Solar Projects
- Financing Assistance
Sunset Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Solar Power Midwest LLC
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- System Decommissioning
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
FreeWorld Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
Vantage Home Solar Illinois
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- System Decommissioning
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Darien
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Darien 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 Darien
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 Darien
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you first need to pay to install your system.The installation cost is just one important factor you should keep in mind when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:
- The make and model of solar panels you want to get: More efficient models have higher prices, so that will influence your budget for your solar project.
- How much power your home consumes: Households that consume a lot of power each month may need more solar panels and, consequently, be more costly, but will also enjoy more savings over time.
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who install a solar energy system this year can save 0 of their total solar spend by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $13,000 on your utility bills over 20 years excluding incentives.
- Your home's orientation toward the sun: This, along with your roof configuration, affects affect how much power your solar panels can make.
There are several great benefits of solar in spite of the upfront cost of installation. It can help the Earth and your finances. In addition, it can raise the value of your home, giving you even more benefits if you want to sell your home later.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
Adopting solar energy can significantly impact both the environment and your monthly expenses. To see how much, use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Darien, IL.
| {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} -year savings | {{ solarcalc.total_savings()|currency }} |
| Estimated cost | {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }} |
| Estimated incentives | {{ solarcalc.incentive_savings() | currency }} |
| Payback period | {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years |
| CO2 emissions prevented | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()|number:0 }} lbs |
| Miles driven equivalent | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()/0.78|number:0 }} mi |
Switching to solar in {{ solarcalc.name }} can save you {{ solarcalc.total_savings() | currency }} over the course of {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} years.
Solar Incentives in Darien
Although a solar power system is typically a large investment, it can save you a considerable amount of money over several years because of lower utility bills and government incentives.In addition to the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some state- and city-level programs, which in almost all cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you can save even more. You can find out about the incentives you can use in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Darien
Installing solar panels can have a beneficial impact on the environment.But how much can using solar energy instead of traditional energy actually help the environment? In a city like Darien where energy use is rather high, making the switch to solar power is a great plan for homeowners who are worried about the state of the planet.Although making solar panels releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by significantly decreasing the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used nonrenewable energy. In Darien, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. For homeowners who want to help the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for the offset carbon emissions.
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 Darien, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best near me?
In Darien, SunPower by Sun N Us is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a great choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your home.
What are the pros and cons of solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it decreases your electricity bills, it’s a sustainable source of energy, and it provides a good return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t work as well when there’s limited direct sunlight, they cost a lot upfront and solar panels can be an eyesore.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels require a large upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a collection of factors like the cost of electricity near you and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
How efficient is a solar panel system?
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 for 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.