Affordable Plug-and-Play Geothermal with Dandelion Air
Dandelion Energy’s geothermal technology began as a Google X project. Now simply called X, this semi-secret lab develops Moonshot technology to solve some of the world’s biggest problems.
Kathy Hannun, Dandelion’s CEO, was a product manager at X looking for technological solutions to climate change in hopes of drastically improving the future of the planet. Geothermal potential stood out to her.
She and a fellow Googler and software developer Bob Wyman wondered if it was possible for geothermal pumps to follow the same market path of solar. Could they develop an affordable heating and cooling system for homeowners? As things stood, there wasn’t much innovation in the field in general, and the cost was hugely prohibitive.
Solving For Geothermal with Optimism and Healthy Skepticism
Kathy received funding and developed a standardized approach to home geothermal, including innovations in hardware, software, and processes. These innovations made geothermal more affordable and intelligent than any other home HVAC system to date. Check their online portal to see if your home is a good fit.
Real World Application of a Google X Clean Energy Project
Most geothermal heating and cooling systems can’t do what Dandelion Air can do. All geothermal systems have underground loop pipes and a heat pump to extract warmth from the earth. But unlike other systems, Dandelion is integrated with what would usually be considered add-ons.
It’s also made with lightweight aluminum materials. This lighter, more durable and easier-to-install system is less expensive than a standard geothermal system. It’s more efficient than traditional gas or oil heating systems, and its advanced monitoring makes it smart-home technology that’s unmatched in its field. Home HVAC systems rarely provide any kind of intelligence, not to mention intelligence of this caliber.
A Monitoring System To Rule Them All
Dandelion’s heat pump is tested at its manufacturing facility to measure baseline performance. Then, it’s tested again after installation to make sure integrity is maintained. The heat pump contains multiple sensors, which check in on the pump on a second-by-second basis throughout the system’s 20-year lifespan. This real-time monitoring ensures any issues are addressed as soon as possible.
Here are the three key advantages of Dandelion Air’s Smart Monitoring:
- Automated initial testing to ensure the installation was completed properly
- Continuous monitoring to ensure the system is performing with optimal efficiency and the homeowner is saving as much money as possible
- Remote troubleshooting and firmware updates (akin to Tesla’s) so exact issues are addressed without hassle
Solar Energy + Geothermal Power: A Match Made in Heaven
Solar energy and geothermal heating and cooling completely each other in a “clean energy” kind of way.
If you have solar panels producing your electricity, but you’re still using gas or oil to heat and cool your home, you’re probably not offsetting your carbon footprint as much as you think. While you might be powering up your electronic devices with clean energy, you’re still firing up the local power plant any time you turn up the thermostat.
Dandelion Air uses electricity. It eliminates oil or gas bills completely but increases the electricity bill. If you had a geothermal system, but not solar, you would still be getting electricity from the utility company. In this case, coal plants or other dirty sources may still produce electricity. Adding solar takes you completely away from burning fossil fuels.
Dandelion recommends that homeowners get solar to offset additional electricity costs and have 100% clean renewable energy.
Saving Money and Climate Impact with Geothermal Power
For every year a Dandelion Air system is up and running in a home, the environmental impact is equivalent to removing two cars from the road. Add up the 20+ years of the system and your geothermal solution has removed the equivalent of 40+ cars from the road.
Homeowners typically save thousands of dollars per year when they switch from heating oil to this clean solution to heat and cool their home. In the Hudson Valley, homeowners typically save between $720 and $2,340 per year when they switch to Dandelion. In Lake County, savings are typical $1,656-$2,856 per year.
Customers also find their homes to be not just more consistently regulated in temperature, but much quieter after the install. No more noisy blower forcing you to turn the TV up to 100. That’s a peaceful bonus. Noise pollution is a real issue, especially at home.
Read more about cost savings and environmental impact on Dandelion’s blog. And check out some customers telling their stories about the stark price differences and how they like the system.
To learn more about geothermal power for your home, visit Dandelion’s online portal.
