15 Best Solar Companies in DeKalb, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in DeKalb based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for DeKalb, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average DeKalb homeowner saves $1,114/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in DeKalb
If you’re a home or business owner looking to make use of the solar incentives in DeKalb, it can be a lot of work to narrow down which company to choose. But, the process is worth it since switching to solar energy is often a good idea. Thanks to encouraging government support and incentives, homeowners in DeKalb have access to some of the best solar installers in the nation.
If you want to take advantage of the great number of perks of solar, we can help you narrow down your options to find the DeKalb solar installer that’s perfect for you.If you’re ready to start receiving free, no-obligation quotes from the best DeKalb solar companies, you can click the button below to learn more.
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 DeKalb
SunPower by Sun N Us
Free Quotes- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Panel Installation
YellowLite
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Greenlink Energy Solutions
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- System Decommissioning
Iconic Energy
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
ilumen Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
Independence Renewable Energy, LLC
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
Reficiency Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
Phoenix Exteriors Roofing & Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
CF Solar Power
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Illinois Solar Express, LLC
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
Kapital Electric, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
Summit Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
Certasun
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
JD Pro Electric Inc
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in DeKalb
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in DeKalb 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 DeKalb
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 DeKalb
The cost of putting up a solar panel system has dropped significantly over the past several years, but it’s still a large investment for most homeowners.The installation cost is just one important factor you should bear in mind when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:
- Your income and budget: This guides what type of solar panels you can purchase.
- Your energy consumption: If your household needs to use a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from going solar.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you lower your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and city may also have various incentives that you can take advantage of. Additionally, you can save about $13,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, before factoring in incentives.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: Because of DeKalb’s high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a decent amount on your power bills.
There are lots of good benefits of solar even with the upfront cost of installation. It can help the environment and your wallet. Additionally, it can boost the value of your home, leading to even more benefits if you choose to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in DeKalb
One of the benefits of installing a solar panel system is receiving federal and potentially state incentives.There are a lot of federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that can earn you anywhere from 0 to 50% of your money in return after installing solar panels. For comprehensive information about incentives that apply to you, check out our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in DeKalb
Lots of people want to do what they can to help protect the planet, which for many is the prime reason they’re interested in installing a solar system.You may be curious – how much do solar panels do for the planet anyway? For homeowners who want to help cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, switching to solar power is an easy choice, especially since DeKalb produces a high amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation.In fact, if you make the switch to solar power, you could lower your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. If you want to do your part for the environment, you’ll likely recognize that there are many good things about adopting solar energy other than just saving money on bills. You can also help preserve the environment, which some would argue is more valuable.
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 DeKalb, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar installation company in DeKalb?
In DeKalb, SunPower by Sun N Us is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a good choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your roof.
What is the negative environmental impact of making solar panels?
Producing solar panels uses chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be bad for the environment, which is the main downside of solar panels.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels require a considerable upfront investment that will cost you several thousands of dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a variety of factors like how much you pay for electricity and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
What is solar panel capacity and how much do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is the amount of energy the panels can create under ideal conditions (a sunny day around noon). The average household has to get between 20 and 35 panels to cover how much energy they need.
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.