7 Best Solar Companies in Champaign, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 7 in Champaign based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Champaign, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Champaign homeowner saves $1,124/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Champaign
On the hunt for the top solar companies in Champaign? Installing a solar panel system is an exciting home addition that many homeowners find beneficial for their wallets, communities and the planet. One of the advantages of residing in Champaign is you have access to many of the best solar panels and services in the country.
There are lots of installers to consider, but in this article, we’ll help you pin down your options by recommending some of the best solar companies in Champaign.Interested in knowing how much it’d cost to install solar panels on your roof? Click "get quote" below to get a free, no-obligation quote from a top-rated Champaign solar installer.
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
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Champaign
SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC
Informative Resources- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Financing Assistance
New Prairie Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Harvest Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
SunSent Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Accutek Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Family-Operated Business
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Champaign
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Champaign 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 Champaign
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 Champaign
We know that for many homeowners, the choice to invest in solar comes down to installation costs.The overall price and potential savings vary depending on a few important factors such as:
- Your income and budget: This determines what type of solar panels you can purchase.
- The cost of energy for you: If your local utility rates are high, there's a better chance you'll have a higher return on your investment in a solar panel system. In Champaign, you can save an average of $851 a month on your electricity bills.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, your solar panels won’t be able to generate as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on energy bills than a roof that gets lots of sunlight.
- Incentives: One thing that can make your solar project cost less is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that’s equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your energy bills, which can give you an average of $13,000 of savings over 20 years.
Solar is a worthwhile investment for most homeowners. You can make your own energy instead of paying for it from a utility company and take advantage of solar tax credits and rebates, all while helping protect the environment.
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For an estimate of both how much you could save and impact the environment by installing a solar panel system, you can give the calculator below a try. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Champaign, IL.
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Solar Incentives in Champaign
Switching to solar power has many wonderful benefits. Not only can it help protect the planet, but you can also save a good amount of money on your installation with various government incentives.You can qualify for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your a solar system. You can also potentially use the ITC with other local incentives. Our article on solar incentives has more in-depth information on the incentives you can benefit from in Champaign.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Champaign
Installing solar panels can have a meaningful impact on the environment.But how much can using solar energy instead of traditional energy actually affect the environment? A key thing to think about is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if your commute is very long, your footprint may be larger, so switching to solar energy for your home can help offset that.Because solar panels don’t release CO2 emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they’re a good swap for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could lower your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. Since energy from the sun is renewable and produces electricity without a carbon footprint, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help the planet.
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
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Champaign, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar panel installer in Champaign?
The best local solar company in Champaign is SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC, with a rating of 4.80 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the construction. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels requires a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels call for a considerable upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a range of factors like the cost of electricity near you and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
How efficient is a solar panel system?
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.