Solar Panels for Your Home
Certasun designs, permits, and installs home solar systems across the Chicago area. Our own crews do every installation.
How home solar works
Solar panels turn sunlight into electricity for your home. Here is what happens, step by step.
- Your panels collect sunlight. Each panel converts sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
- Inverters change it to the electricity your home uses. Your home runs on alternating current (AC), so an inverter converts the DC power. If you add solar without a battery, we install Enphase microinverters. If you add a battery, the battery's own inverter does this job.
- Power flows to where you need it. Your system connects to your main electrical panel, which sends the power to your lights and appliances.
- Extra power goes to the grid. When your panels make more than you use, the extra flows to the utility grid and earns you credits. You draw on those credits at night and in winter. This is called net metering. How net metering works →
Will solar save me money?
Usually, yes. How much depends on the size of your system, how much sun your roof gets, how much electricity you use, and how you pay for it. A system with a battery can add savings by using stored power when electricity costs the most. We'll show you the numbers for your home during your consultation. How solar saves you money →
Incentives that lower your cost
- Illinois Shines. Illinois utilities pay you for the renewable energy credits (RECs) your system produces. The program can cover 20% to 40% of the cost of going solar. Certasun is an Illinois Shines Approved Vendor, so we file your application ourselves. You receive the incentive over several years.
- ComEd's solar rebate. If ComEd is your utility, you may qualify for a rebate of $300 per kilowatt (kW) of solar you install. A kilowatt measures how much power your system can make. For example, an 8 kW system would qualify for $2,400. The rebate covers about another 10% of the cost.
What solar costs and how you can pay
A home solar system typically costs $15,000 to $50,000 before incentives, depending on its size and equipment. You have four ways to pay.
- Buy it. You pay in stages as the work moves along.
- Finance it. A short-term loan can spread out the cost.
- Prio prepaid solar. You prepay once for 15 years of solar electricity at a fixed rate, with no monthly payments. Certasun owns the system and handles maintenance, repairs, and insurance. Prio is available to ComEd customers in northern Illinois. How Prio works →
- Lease it. You make monthly payments for 15 years. The lease includes a battery. How a lease works →
Solar with a battery
About 60% of our customers add a battery when they go solar. Your panels recharge it every day, so it keeps your lights on when the grid goes down. Home batteries →
The equipment we install
- Panels. REC panels, chosen for performance and warranty.
- Inverters. Enphase microinverters for solar alone. With a battery, the battery's inverter handles the work.
- SolarGuard. We wrap mesh around the edge of your array with every system, so neither and debris can't get underneath.
From signing to switching on
Installation day is only one step. About three months pass between signing your agreement and installation, and it can take several more weeks to pass inspection and turn your system on. We handle the design, permits, engineering, and utility interconnection, and we keep you updated along the way. What to expect, step by step →
Is my home a good fit for solar?
Most homes are, but a few things can change the answer. If any of these describe you, we'll tell you honestly what we see.
- You rent. A landlord owns the roof, so solar usually isn't possible.
- Your electric bill is under about $75 a month. A smaller system may not repay the fixed costs of installing it.
- Your roof is steep, shaded, or unusual. We install on flat roofs and pitched roofs up to 45 degrees. We don't install on DaVinci shingles or cedar shake. Heavy shade cuts production a lot.
- Your roof needs replacing soon. Wait for the new roof, then add solar. That timing works well.
Where we install
We install solar in Chicago, its suburbs, and southeast Wisconsin. See what we do in your town: Chicago · Naperville · Buffalo Grove · Oak Park · Plainfield · Rockford
Why Certasun
- Local. We're based in Buffalo Grove. Since 2018, we've installed more than 3,000 systems.
- Well reviewed. 4.7 out of 5 on Google (335 reviews) and 4.5 out of 5 on SolarReviews (200+ reviews).
- Our own crews. Certasun employees install every system. We don't use subcontractors.
- Clean installs. We run wiring through your attic when we can and place hardware under the panels, so your roof looks tidy.
- We know your town's rules. We've worked with more than 200 municipalities, so your design meets local code the first time.
- We stand behind it. A 10-year workmanship warranty and a 10-year roof watertightness warranty come with your system. Our production guarantee pays you $0.14 per kWh if your system produces less than 90% of our estimate. It applies to purchase, loan, and Prio agreements.
- Straight answers. We'll show you what solar will and won't do for your home before you decide.
What our customers say
“The installers made sure we understood everything they were going to do and worked with us on some of the fine details... they were very focused on doing a clean install where all of the conduit and hardware would be as hidden as possible. We are very happy with the install and how it looks.”
MIKE M., DOWNERS GROVE, IL
“Our experience with Certasun was top-notch from start to finish. There was no hard sell, everyone we met was courteous and professional, and questions were answered in a timely manner. Compared to other solar panels in the neighborhood, ours from Certasun look much sleeker and more integral to our roof."
GAIL N., THIRD LAKE, ILLINOIS
"They were very helpful giving us facts and reworking proposals a number of times. The installation crew were very mindful when on our property taking care to not disturb our garden - very clean job. We should have made this decision years ago.
AASHISH P., PALATINE, ILLINOIS
“Wonderful company to work with. Excellent communication from the sales representative to the project manager and the installation team. All employees are courteous and willing to answer any questions.”
RON B., GRAYSLAKE, ILLINOIS
Questions homeowners ask
How long does it take to go solar?
About three months from signing to installation, plus several weeks for inspection and utility approval. See each step →
Do I need a battery?
No. Many homes go solar without one. A battery keeps your power on during an outage and can lower your bill. You can add one now or later. Home batteries →
Who handles the permits and utility paperwork?
We do. We design your system, file your permit, and handle the utility connection and your incentive application.
What if my utility isn't ComEd?
We install for customers of several Illinois municipal utilities and for Wisconsin customers too. Net metering and incentives differ by utility. Net metering by utility →
Do you install solar on any roof?
Almost any. See "Is my home a good fit for solar?" above for the exceptions.
How much does solar cost?
Most systems cost $15,000 to $50,000 before incentives. What affects your price →
Last updated: October 3, 2026
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