In 2017, my family and I found ourselves at a crossroads, both professionally and personally. An exciting work opportunity arose that would allow me to help launch a new community solar program in the Hudson Valley of New York. The prospect of spearheading such an impactful initiative was too good to pass up, so my wife, son, and I packed our bags and left the Twin Cities of Minnesota for a new beginning in Poughkeepsie, NY.
As we settled into our rented home in Poughkeepsie, we quickly fell in love with the area. The stunning natural beauty of the Hudson Valley felt like home from the beginning – it was clear that this was where we wanted to put down roots. It wasn’t long before we discovered that our landlord was interested in selling the house, which presented the perfect opportunity for us.
I had always dreamed of living in a carbon-neutral, net-zero home.
Given my background in renewable energy, I had always dreamed of living in a net-zero, carbon-neutral home. We closed on the house in April of 2022, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do: transform our new home into an energy-independent, sustainable haven. The first step, installing solar panels, was straightforward thanks to my experience in the solar industry. We did some tree work, and before long, the panels were up and running, providing clean, renewable energy to our home.
However, as we moved forward with the rest of the conversion, I quickly realized that my knowledge of solar energy was just the beginning, the complexities of integrating various systems—geothermal heating and cooling, insulating and air sealing, converting to a heat pump hot water system, and adding battery storage—were far more challenging than I had anticipated.
Despite the challenges, we persevered, and today our house is net-zero
The process was anything but smooth. We worked with seven different contractors, navigated four different financial products, and dealt with unexpected issues like poor air quality that led to some serious headaches—literally and figuratively. Despite the challenges, we persevered, and today our house proudly stands as a net-zero, energy-independent home.
But the journey left me thinking: there had to be a better way to help homeowners achieve these goals without the headaches and complications we experienced. That’s when the idea for New Energy Project Management came to life.
Upgrade your home with cost-effective, energy-efficient systems
My name is Craig Hightower, Co-Founder and President of New Energy Project Management. Alongside my business partner, Drew Zarrella, MBA, Co-Founder and VP, we are dedicated to helping fellow New Yorkers navigate the complexities of adopting energy-efficient systems. Our mission is to ensure that your transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future is as seamless and stress-free as possible.
At New Energy Project Management, we believe that no one should have to face the challenges my family did when striving to create a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly home.
"We’re here to guide you every step of the way, empowering you to make informed decisions that lead to a more sustainable, energy-independent lifestyle. Join us in building a cleaner future, one project at a time." - Co-Founder New Energy PM, Craig Hightower
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