Home Energy Assessment
Measure the house first.
Then spend on the right fix.
A home energy assessment finds where a Long Island house loses heat and money before anyone quotes insulation, a heat pump, or solar. EnergiSense uses it to rank upgrades by payback, not by what is easiest to sell.
- Blower door + infrared scan
- Insulation and HVAC review
- Ranked upgrade plan
- Free-assessment paths checked
Home energy assessment
Numbers first.
Then a plan you can rank.
Leakage is measured, not guessed
A calibrated fan depressurizes the house so air leaks show up as numbers and on the infrared camera.
Upgrades in payback order
The report lists each fix with an estimated cost and expected annual savings so the sequence is obvious.
Founder reads the report
The assessment feeds one proposal that prices insulation, heat pump, solar, and battery as separate lines.
Assessment decision
Find the loss.
Then choose the fix.
The assessment tells us what the house needs and in what order. Everything EnergiSense quotes afterward is built on that measurement.
01
Problem check
Most Long Island homes were built before air leakage mattered, and most heating systems were sized for that leaky house. EnergiSense starts with the existing system, roof condition, utility account, and timeline so the recommendation fits the property.
02
Scope separation
Solar, roofing, storage, removal, and repair work are separated in the proposal so the homeowner can see what is urgent and what can wait.
03
Roof and electrical review
Roof age, attachment risk, inverter location, panel layout, shutoff rules, and access are checked before promising a simple install or repair.
04
Utility math
PSEG, Con Edison, or local utility details are reviewed against the actual bill instead of generic New York savings claims.
05
Manufacturer path
Assessment scope follows the NYSERDA-described process: bill analysis, interior and exterior envelope inspection, blower door test, and thermographic scan. Findings are documented before any equipment is recommended.
06
Next appointment
The assessment decides the order of every upgrade that follows. The intake asks for a quote path and preferred site-visit window so Alex can confirm scope and timing before the visit.
What gets measured
Four tests that replace guesswork with numbers.
NYSERDA describes a complete assessment as bill analysis, an interior and exterior inspection of insulation, HVAC, doors, windows, and envelope, a blower door test, and a thermographic scan. Each one answers a different question about the house.
- Bill history shows how much energy the house actually uses by season and by fuel.
- The envelope inspection finds missing or compressed insulation, uninsulated rim joists, and gaps around penetrations.
- The blower door test puts a number on air leakage so before-and-after work can be proven.
- The infrared scan shows exactly where heat is escaping through walls, ceilings, and around windows.
What you get
A ranked plan, not a brochure.
The assessment report lists recommended upgrades with estimated cost and expected annual savings. EnergiSense turns that into one proposal where insulation, air sealing, heat pump, solar, and battery are separate lines you can accept or defer.
- Upgrades ordered by payback so the cheapest, highest-return work comes first.
- Heating and cooling load figures that size the heat pump correctly.
- A right-sized electric load for the solar and battery design.
- Program eligibility notes for NYSERDA and PSEG Long Island paths, verified before quoting.
Free assessment paths
Most Long Island homes qualify for a no-cost assessment.
NYSERDA states that all New York homeowners and renters in 1-4 family homes are eligible for a no-cost assessment, with EmPower+ covering low- and moderate-income households and PSEG Long Island offering a free home assessment to its customers.
- EmPower+: no-cost assessment for income-eligible households, with additional support for upgrades.
- PSEG Long Island: free Whole House Energy Assessment, then Home Performance rebates for insulation ($2,500 to $5,200), air sealing ($1,000 to $2,000) and duct sealing ($500 to $800) by income tier.
- Comfort Home: NYSERDA seal-and-insulate packages ($2,500 or $3,000) for homeowners who pay the System Benefits Charge, such as Con Edison customers; PSEG Long Island customers do not pay it.
- EnergiSense confirms the right path for your address and income tier before scheduling.
After the assessment
The order of work is the savings.
Sealing and insulating first shrinks the load. A heat pump sized to that smaller load costs less and runs more efficiently. Solar then covers a smaller bill. On Long Island, PSEG rebates the envelope work and the heat pump separately, and doing them in that order keeps both rebates.
- Air seal and insulate before the heat pump is sized.
- Convert oil or gas heat once the envelope is tight.
- Size solar to the post-upgrade electric load, not the old one.
- Add battery storage where PSEG export credits and backup needs justify it.
Assessment vs. straight quote
Why the assessment comes before any equipment price.
| Factor | Assessment first | Quote without one |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump size | Sized to the measured load after sealing and insulation. | Sized to the old furnace or a square-footage rule of thumb. |
| Rebate eligibility | Manual J load calculation is part of the record PSEG requires. | Load documentation has to be recreated later or the rebate is at risk. |
| Solar array | Covers the post-upgrade bill, so fewer panels. | Covers today's inflated bill, so more panels and more cost. |
| Comfort problems | Drafts, cold rooms, and ice dams traced to their cause. | Symptoms treated with bigger equipment. |
Related paths
Follow the plan
the assessment writes.
Program references
Read what the programs
actually say.
These are the official program pages EnergiSense works from. Eligibility, funding, and incentive amounts are re-verified for your address before they appear on a proposal.
Home Energy Assessment FAQ
Questions before
the appointment.
What happens during a home energy assessment?
The assessor reviews your energy bills, inspects insulation, HVAC, doors, windows, and the building envelope inside and out, runs a blower door test that pulls air out of the house to measure leakage, and scans walls and ceilings with an infrared camera to find heat loss. You get a report with recommended upgrades, estimated costs, and expected annual savings.
Is a home energy assessment free on Long Island?
NYSERDA states that all New York homeowners and renters in 1-4 family homes are eligible for a no-cost energy assessment, that EmPower+ provides a no-cost assessment for low- and moderate-income households, and that PSEG Long Island customers can access a free home assessment through the utility. EnergiSense confirms which path fits your address and income tier before scheduling.
Who performs the assessment?
Program assessments are performed by participating energy audit contractors. The Building Performance Institute (BPI) sets the national standard for home performance auditor certification. EnergiSense coordinates the assessment and reads the results into your upgrade plan; certification of the auditing contractor is confirmed on the proposal.
How long does it take?
Plan on two to three hours on site for a typical Long Island single-family home. Larger homes, finished attics, and homes with multiple heating systems take longer. The written report follows after the data is analyzed.
Should I get the assessment before I get a solar or heat pump quote?
Yes. Insulation and air sealing reduce the heating and cooling load, which lets the heat pump be sized smaller and the solar array cover a smaller electric bill. On Long Island, PSEG's Home Performance rebates for insulation and air sealing depend on the assessment results, and its heat pump rebate depends on a Manual J that should be run on the tighter house.
What should I have ready?
Twelve months of electric and fuel bills, the age of the heating and cooling equipment, any known drafty rooms or ice-dam history, and access to the attic, basement, and mechanical areas.
Quote + site visit
Request the quote.
Lock the next appointment.
EnergiSense reviews the project, confirms the right scope, and follows up with quote path and site-visit timing.