Net-Zero Home
Net zero is a sequence.
Not a product.
A net-zero home produces as much energy over a year as it uses. On Long Island that means cutting the load with sealing, insulation, and a heat pump, then covering what is left with solar and a battery. EnergiSense builds that sequence on one proposal.
- Assess, seal, insulate
- Electrify heating
- Solar covers the load
- Battery shifts the timing
Net-zero path
Reduce, electrify, generate.
In that order.
Reduce before you produce
Every kilowatt-hour the envelope and heat pump save is a panel you do not have to buy.
One fuel you can make on site
Once heating, hot water, and cooking run on electricity, solar can cover the whole house.
Zero on your timeline
The plan is sequenced so each phase pays for itself and the next phase gets smaller.
Net-zero decision
Start with the load.
End with the array.
Net zero is reached by shrinking the load until the roof can cover it. EnergiSense prices every step as its own line so the plan can be phased without losing the sequence.
01
Problem check
Net zero gets sold as a solar array size when it is really a load-reduction plan with solar at the end. 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
Each phase carries its own equipment, workmanship, and production warranties, listed separately on the proposal so the homeowner knows what is covered at every stage.
06
Next appointment
The order is assess, seal and insulate, electrify, generate, store. Each step changes the size of the next. The intake asks for a quote path and preferred site-visit window so the page can turn ranking traffic into a real appointment.
Step 1 and 2
Measure, then tighten.
The assessment measures leakage, insulation, and load. Sealing and insulating the envelope is the cheapest energy the house will ever save, and it sets the size of everything that follows.
- Blower door and infrared scan establish the baseline.
- Attic plane and rim joist sealed; attic, walls, and basement insulated.
- Post-work blower door proves the reduction.
- NYSERDA Comfort Home incentives apply through participating contractors.
Step 3
Electrify the heating.
A cold-climate heat pump sized to the tightened house replaces oil or gas and adds cooling. The PSEG whole-house rebate and Rate 580 apply. Hot water and cooking follow as equipment ages out.
- Manual J on the post-envelope house.
- Ducted, ductless, or hybrid layout by the assessment.
- Integrated controls or removal of the old system.
- Panel capacity confirmed by EnergiSense electricians.
Step 4
Generate the load you have left.
The solar array is sized to the new all-electric usage under PSEG or Con Edison net metering. Roof condition is confirmed first by the same company that installs GAF roofing, so the array goes on a roof that will outlast it.
- Array sized to post-upgrade annual usage.
- Roof replaced first only if it has under about five years left.
- Tier-1 all-black panels with a 25-year production warranty.
- Interconnection filed early and chased weekly.
Step 5
Store it where the rate math says to.
A battery changes when solar power is used. On PSEG Long Island, export credits stack at 1:2 peak-to-off-peak and 1:4 peak-to-super-off-peak with storage, and the house keeps power in an outage. Not available on NYC borough installs.
- Powerwall 3 or Enphase IQ Battery 5P by existing equipment and backup goals.
- Modeled against your actual PSEG rate windows.
- Backup loads planned with the heat pump circuit.
- Optional; net zero does not require it.
Sequenced vs. solar-first
Two ways to chase zero. One of them is cheaper.
| Factor | Sequenced plan | Solar-first |
|---|---|---|
| Array size | Sized to a reduced, all-electric load. | Sized to today's leaky-house bill, then undersized once heating goes electric. |
| Heat pump | Smaller unit on a tight envelope. | Larger unit, or never installed because the array cannot cover it. |
| Incentives | Comfort Home, heat pump bonus, PSEG rebate, solar programs in sequence. | Solar programs only. |
| Comfort | Drafts and cold rooms fixed at the source. | Unchanged. |
Related paths
The five steps,
each with its own page.
Program references
The programs behind
each step.
These are the official pages EnergiSense works from at each phase. Incentives are re-verified for your address before they appear on a proposal.
Net-Zero Home FAQ
Questions before
the appointment.
What is a net-zero home?
A home that produces as much energy over a year as it consumes, usually by cutting the load with air sealing, insulation, and efficient electric equipment, then generating the remainder with solar. It is measured annually, so the house can import from the grid in winter and export in summer under net metering.
Can an existing Long Island house reach net zero?
Most can get close and many can reach it, depending on roof area, orientation, shading, and how much the load can be reduced. The assessment sets the baseline, the envelope and heat pump work shrink it, and the solar design shows whether the roof can cover the rest. EnergiSense tells you the realistic number before you commit.
What order should the upgrades go in?
Assessment first. Air sealing and insulation second. Heat pump third, sized to the tightened house. Solar fourth, sized to the new all-electric load. Battery last, where PSEG export credits and backup needs justify it. Doing them out of order means oversized equipment and a bigger array.
Do I need a battery to be net zero?
No. Net zero is an annual energy balance and net metering handles the seasonal swing. A battery changes when your solar power is used, which matters on PSEG Long Island because export credits stack at 1:2 or 1:4 with storage, and it provides backup in an outage. It is an economics and resilience decision, not a net-zero requirement.
Which incentives apply along the way?
NYSERDA Comfort Home for seal-and-insulate packages, the NYSERDA bonus when a heat pump follows within 24 months, PSEG Long Island whole-house heat pump rebates of $4,000 to $7,500 by tier, and New York solar and battery programs modeled on the solar proposal. The federal 25C credit ended after December 31, 2025. EnergiSense verifies each incentive for your address at each phase.
Does the roof need to be replaced first?
If the roof has fewer than about five years of life left, it is replaced before solar goes on, and EnergiSense bundles the labor as a GAF Master Elite contractor. Attic ventilation and insulation are handled in the same visit so the envelope and the roof do not conflict.
Quote + site visit
Request the quote.
Lock the next appointment.
EnergiSense reviews net zero home, confirms the right scope, and follows up with quote path and site-visit timing.