Best 10 Solar Companies in Schaumburg, IL

With Schaumburg's clear skies and little rainfall, it's a perfect area for families and businesses hoping to harness the added sunlight by purchasing panels from one of the best solar installers. Local homeowners might go for solar to break free of high power costs from sources like nuclear. A knowledgeable team can help you install and tune a system that meets your energy needs without costing a fortune. Discover Schaumburg's top-rated solar companies and learn essential decision-making advice on this page.

Ranking Methodology

Our team focuses on the following criteria to determine the best Schaumburg solar companies.

• Experience and professional licensure: Each company on our list complies with state and city licensing requirements and stays up to date with industry best practices. Many of them have been a part of the Schaumburg community for a decade or longer.
• Educational approach: Solar technicians must be good teachers. They should utilize their years of experience address your questions on how to look after your system and optimize its performance.
• Reviews and feedback from customers: Most Schaumburg solar contractors have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio reflects a company's dependability and responsiveness to issues.
• Warranty and service offerings: Solar installers should stand behind their products and services with warranties. We evaluated how each company responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on promptness and customer happiness.
• Panel quality and brand offerings: The top solar companies keep up with new technology, offering equipment from cutting-edge and trustworthy manufacturers.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy has several advantages that will enhance your home for years to come.

• Lowered energy bills: Solar panels let you generate your own energy to power your home, reducing your regular electricity costs. You can eliminate your bills completely if you go off-grid. Plus, a significant amount of states offer net metering, which permit you to earn money by selling your unused energy back to the grid.
• Better energy independence: Solar energy can keep your home functioning through blackouts and emergencies, giving you additional security. You can use your solar energy anytime with optional battery storage.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Embracing solar is a surefire way to minimize your carbon footprint and home fossil fuel dependency.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Schaumburg Homeowners?

Illinois homeowners who decide on solar could qualify for reimbursements, rebates, special financing and tax credits. Here are just a few of the region's incentive offerings.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Schaumburg

Choosing a company is the first step toward an effective and cost-efficient solar array. Consider all of these factors in your service provider search.

Licensing and Training

In Illinois, the state Commerce Commission issues licenses to distributed generation energy contractors, including residential solar contractors. Check for private accreditations from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), among the solar industry's most trusted trade groups. Its program includes certifications for both solar photovoltaic and water heating installers.

Cost of Solar Panels in Schaumburg

Different solar panel types look and perform differently. Monocrystalline panels offer the best energy production but cost more than other options and generally have the highest quality. Polycrystalline panels produce less power, but start at a more budget-friendly price point. Thin-film panels work well for small projects like RVs and sheds, but they're not ideal for larger installations due to their low performance.

You can also add battery backups and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. These will increase your total installation cost, but they can increase your solar system's performance. Not all solar contractors include these optional components, so look for a provider that installs them if it's important for you.

If you're a resident of Schaumburg and want a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could expect to pay about $18,800 for parts and installation. See more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Schaumburg

Solar contractors offer multiple different financing options to lower your costs and increase your savings. Though some providers offer unique payment plans, the most common are solar leases, cash payments, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and solar loans. Most solar experts recommend paying cash or using a solar loan. Cash payments demand a large up-front sum, but they save you from paying interest, grant you system ownership, and qualify you for cost-saving solar incentives. Solar loans have the same benefits, though you'll pay more in total due to interest and fees. Like a home or auto loan, you'll pay a set monthly rate with as little as $0 down. Solar leases allow you to pay a monthly rate to rent your panels, while a power purchase agreement lets you pay a fluctuating rate based on only the energy you use. We generally don't recommend these options since you will not have ownership of your system and are disqualified from solar incentives, but they might be appropriate in specific circumstances. We suggest working with an installer that offers multiple financing options. Ask each representative about what's available, and secure more than one estimate for the best odds of staying within your financial plan.

The table below lists the average payback periods for different capacities of solar systems in Schaumburg.

You can claim a 26% federal solar tax credit from the IRS for new residential solar systems purchased before 2032. Additionally, utilities and local governments may have their own financing plans and rebates that could reduce your total cost even more.

Sources

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• U.S. Department of Energy