The following reviews are from some of your neighbors in South Orange and Maplewood who have completed these home energy improvements.
Electric Vehicles
- Peter and Lauren Sklaver, South Orange “single-family home” owners
For years I was curious about electric vehicles, but I kept finding reasons to wait. Concerns about range, charging infrastructure, and whether an EV could realistically fit into my family’s busy schedule made me hesitant to make the switch. After doing more research and seeing how much the technology had improved, we finally decided the time was right. We chose the Kia EV6 because it offered the perfect combination of range, performance, technology, and value. The fast charging capability gave me confidence for longer trips, and the sleek design and spacious interior made it feel like a true upgrade from my previous vehicle. Looking back, my biggest surprise is how easy the transition has been. The convenience of charging at home, the lower operating costs, and the smooth, quiet driving experience have made me wonder why I didn’t make the switch sooner.
Rooftop Solar Panels
TBD - stay tuned!
Community Solar
TBD - stay tuned!
Heat Pump HVAC Systems
- Patrick and Jennie Aylward, South Orange “single-family home” owners
Reiner Group installed our Mitsubishi Electric mini split heat pump system in 2019. The system circulates refrigerant to transfer heat between an outdoor compressor/condenser unit and individual indoor heating and cooling units in three different rooms. The heat pump system supplements our gas-powered forced-air system, which doesn’t get sufficient heating and cooling to every room.
This heat pump system does come with the aesthetic tradeoffs of units protruding from the interior walls, and extra gutters outside covering the copper pipe that connects the compressor and the wall units. But overall, we are happy that this solution didn’t require tearing up any walls for additional ducts, and we really love the efficiency of being able to heat/cool rooms individually as needed.
Weatherization
- We interviewed a local senior citizen who participated in PSE&G’s weatherization program for low and moderate income households. Although he wishes to remain anonymous, he gave us permission to share the below details of his experience:
“He received the following, all FREE:
- A new refrigerator to replace an older less-efficient model, fully installed
- Spray-foam insulation for his attic and walls!
- Weather stripping of his doors, installed
- Low-flow shower heads, installed
- Other products, as we already know PSE&G gives out during their assessments (LED light bulbs, power strips, etc.)
The insulation piece was especially surprising. It is likely that job alone is worth $10-$15K. The resident reported a major improvement in comfort and energy efficiency.
They took a little longer than he would have liked, but not a big annoyance. He had his initial assessment in the fall, but they didn’t get out to do the insulation and weather stripping until Feb/Mar. He would have liked it done before the winter.
The resident reported that all he needed to show was his Social Security statement to prove income eligibility. He added that verification was a simple process.”
Heat Pump Water Heaters
TBD - stay tuned!
Induction Stoves
- Mottaqui Karim & Julianna Garreffa, South Orange condo owners
We’re huge foodies, so we splurged on a GE Profile Smart Convection Oven with 5 Induction Burners. We will never go back to gas! It’s faster, safer, and offers better temperature control. Plus, our home’s air quality is better now that there are no gas flames in our kitchen.
To prep for it, an electrician installed a new electrical line to our stove and capped the gas line. The $250 PSE&G rebate helped pay for that.
Heat Pump Clothes Dryers
- Mottaqui Karim & Julianna Garreffa, South Orange condo owners
We purchased a Bosch 800 Series ventless heat pump dryer in 2025 and took advantage of the $250 rebate from PSE&G. Although it says “compact”, it fits our king-sized comforter easily! This dryer does take longer to run a cycle, but the energy efficiency savings make it well worth it. Moreover, we no longer have to clean our dryer vent regularly to prevent fire risk, which means we’ll recoup the up-front cost of the dryer within only three years.