Verona, NJ Home Energy Audit Night: What Residents Learned (and Loved) About PSE&G’s Whole Home Energy Solutions
The Town of Verona hosted an informational session at the Verona Public Library where neighbors heard how to make old homes warmer, safer, and more efficient—without wrecking budgets. The evening featured Sustainable Verona, Sustainable Jersey, and our overview of PSE&G’s Whole Home Energy Solutions program. The town recorded the event; you can watch the full session below.
Quick take: Verona homeowners can combine cash-back incentives with 0% on-bill repayment to fund upgrades like insulation, air sealing, high-efficiency heating/cooling, and heat-pump water heaters—often with minimal upfront cost.
Who organized it—and why it matters for Verona
Sustainable Verona & Sustainable Jersey kicked off with the big picture: most NJ towns participate in sustainability actions, and grants help spread the word so residents actually use the programs.
Residents were pointed to the Verona campaign website for an easy, guided start based on home type, ownership, and income—so you land on the right program path (assessment → audit → upgrades).
“We want as many people as possible to know about the programs that PSE&G has for you to make your home more energy efficient”
The program in plain English
Whole Home Energy Solutions (PSE&G) ties your incentives to projected energy savings after a comprehensive home energy audit. That audit checks safety (CO, gas leaks, venting), measures air leakage (blower door), documents insulation levels, and models different upgrade scenarios to maximize incentives.
Typical eligible improvements:
Attic and wall insulation + air sealing
High-efficiency heating, cooling, and water heating
Health & safety fixes that must be addressed before sealing/insulating (e.g., asbestos abatement, knob-and-tube wiring) with limited allocation support
Incentive framework (as discussed at the event):
Cash-back incentive that scales with projected savings, up to $7,500
0% on-bill repayment through PSE&G, with multi-year terms available to qualified borrowers
Additional programs (e.g., decarbonization/heat pump incentives) may stack with the above
Note: Specific incentive amounts and terms can change; your audit and proposal will include your exact eligibility and current figures.
Verona neighbors, real results
The best part of the evening was hearing from residents who actually did the work. Here are direct quotes pulled from the panel:
“I started in April and the work was completed yesterday… Ciel handled the audit, found asbestos, referred the right pros, and kept things moving. Everyone was professional, neat, and efficient.” — Melissa, Hillside Ave.
“I went with a heat pump water heater—there’s an app, vacation mode, and energy analytics. It’s pricier upfront, but the efficiency is phenomenal.” — Melissa
“The vendor vetting helped us move forward. One-stop makes it doable when you’re busy.” — Anna
“The validation mattered: after the work, they re-tested for CO, gas leaks, and air leakage. Peace of mind.” — Melissa
Common Verona home issues the audit actually finds
Excess air leakage in attics, kneewalls, rim joists, and around penetrations
Insufficient attic insulation (older code was ~6″; current best practice is far higher)
Uninsulated or poorly insulated walls in pre-war homes
Aging combustion equipment and inefficient hot water
Knob-and-tube wiring and legacy asbestos that must be resolved prior to sealing
Why sealing/insulating beats windows (most of the time):
Attic + envelope work addresses the biggest surface areas and the physics of stack effect (warm air up, cold air down). That typically delivers faster comfort gains and stronger modeled savings—which can increase your incentive.
What the process looks like in Verona
Start on the Verona campaign page (guided flow to the right program path).
Schedule a comprehensive home energy audit (safety testing, blower door, thermal imaging, measurements).
Review your report with modeled savings, pricing, and current incentives/0% terms.
Pick your scope (insulation + air sealing is often required; then add HVAC/water heating as needed).
Complete health & safety items if flagged (e.g., asbestos, electrical).
Install upgrades with participating contractors.
Final validation test to confirm safety and effectiveness; closeout package includes certification documentation.
Why this is timely for Verona, Cedar Grove, Montclair, and nearby Essex County towns
Older housing stock = big comfort wins from air sealing and insulation. Many projects qualify for cash back + 0% on-bill repayment, reducing or eliminating upfront cost. Residents also discussed federal tax credits for certain measures; your proposal will outline which ones apply to your home this year.
Watch the full Verona Library session
Prefer notes? This post summarizes key moments, but the Q&A is loaded with specifics on insulation strategy, heat pumps for homes without existing ducts, crawlspace approaches, warranties, and more.
Ready to get started?
Verona campaign page: take the guided path to your program track
Book a comprehensive home energy audit with Ciel Power: we’re a participating PSE&G Trade Ally serving Verona, Cedar Grove, Montclair, West Orange, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Nutley, and greater Essex County
Questions? We’re happy to review prior quotes and help you prioritize scope for maximum comfort and incentive value
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Item description
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The PSE&G Whole Home Energy Assessment is a cursory evaluation available to both renters and home owners that includes basic freebies and a report suggesting next steps.
The PSE&G Whole Home Energy Solutions Home Energy Audit is a 2–3 hour diagnostic with safety testing, blower door, thermal imaging, and modeling—required before incentives are awarded. -
No. Most Verona homeowners start with air sealing + attic insulation (often required), then add HVAC or water heating based on need, budget, and incentive modeling.
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No—PSE&G lists participating contractors. Verona partnered with Ciel for this campaign; we also handle sub-trades and vendor vetting to keep projects moving.
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Windows are evaluated, but are not eligible for incentive funds. Insulation/air sealing usually deliver stronger savings per dollar in Verona’s older homes.