15 Best Solar Companies in Foster, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Foster based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Foster, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Foster homeowner saves $1,379/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Foster
Getting the right solar panel installation company for your house is an important decision, but it's one that can pay off big in Foster. Solar panels can be expensive, but switching to solar will save you money on your power bills over time. In fact, you can potentially save about $16,000 over 20 years.
Here, we’ll make a list of some of the top solar companies in Foster to make your decision a little bit easier.To get free quotes from the best solar companies in Foster, you can click "get quote" 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 Foster
Route 66 Solar
Informative Resources- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Financing Assistance- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Astrawatt Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
StraightUp Solar of St. Louis
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
SunSent Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
EFS Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
Streib Company
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
BKJ Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Helio Solar Power, LLC.
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Solar Carports
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Solar Luxury LLC
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- System Decommissioning
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
AKA Solar LLC
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Pyramid Electrical Contractors, Inc.
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
five stars electric and solar LLC
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Purelight Power of St. Louis
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
Solar city stl
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
Sustainable Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Skilled Repairs
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Foster
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Foster 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 Foster
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 Foster
We know that for lots of homeowners, the choice to invest in solar highly depends on installation costs.Some important things that determine how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- Average daily sunlight: Since Foster gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally produce enough energy to power your whole home, which affects how much your electricity bills will be.
- Your income and budget: This guides what kind of solar panels you can purchase.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which can save you some money, lets you deduct 0 of the cost of your solar system installation from your taxes. Additionally, not including incentives, you can save about $16,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- Electricity consumption: The average household in Foster uses a decent amount of, and consequently may save on their energy bills.
Solar is a valuable investment for most homeowners. You can generate your own energy instead of paying for it from the grid and make use of solar incentives, all while helping preserve the Earth.
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Solar Incentives in Foster
Adopting solar power has many wonderful benefits. Not only can it help protect the planet, but you can also save some money on your installation with various government incentives.When you install a solar panel system on your home, you can claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you lower your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. Plus, there are often some local incentives that you can take advantage of to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. Our article on solar incentives has more information on the incentives you can benefit from in Foster.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Foster
There are a few key reasons why many people are interested in solar energy: to put more money in their bank account and to help the planet.But – how much exactly can you help the environment by using solar power? If your family uses lots of energy, you can impact the environment even more by switching to solar power.In Foster, the average household can reduce their carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year after going solar. As you can see, investing in solar has so many other perks besides saving money. One of the main ones is that you can help save the Earth too.
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 Foster, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar installer in Foster?
In Foster, Route 66 Solar is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.90 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your home.
Are solar panels actually good for the environment?
Solar panels can be harmful 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. Solar panel manufacturing uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after installing solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 15.3 years, but the exact period is influenced by the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
How efficient are solar panels?
Solar panel efficiency is the amount of energy from the sun that is converted into electricity. Most panels today have an efficiency rating between 15 and 20%. 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.