Technology That Can Reduce Skyrocketing Energy Cost
With an increased emphasis on reducing energy emissions and carbon footprint taking center stage, geothermal heating and cooling systems have become popular with homeowners across the US. Geothermal systems have been in place since the 1940s, starting by providing basic water heating. Geothermal heating and cooling systems, also called Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP), provide heating and cooling by exchanging heat with the ground. These systems take advantage of the fact that the grounds’ temperature remains relatively constant throughout the year, ranging from 45o to 65o F. Depending upon the season, the ground can serve as a heat source or a heat sink.
Implementation of geothermal space conditioning systems provides anywhere from 20% to 60% savings in utility bills. Also, even though the initial installation costs can be high, the relatively short payback period of 6-7 years makes up for the upfront investment. After this period, it’s low maintenance, energy-efficient HVAC system for your home. All geothermal cooling and heating systems have a few common components. These include a mechanism for transferring the heat exchange fluid to the ground and back, a heat pump to move the fluid, and a distribution system. Whether it’s a winter cold snap or a summer scorcher, the ground five feet below the surface maintains a constant temperature year-round. This constant earth temperature is higher than average winter temperatures, and lower than average summer temperatures.
Geothermal systems use this difference in temperature to transfer heat between your home and the Earth below taking advantage of ground temperatures vs. surface temperatures.
Dandelion Energy in Marlboro, Massachusetts, the nation’s leading provider of home geothermal systems has recently expanded its residential programs in the region for more affordable, sustainable geothermal heating and cooling systems supporting new climate objectives in the United States. This is especially timely for Massachusetts given the latest news on the climate tech and clean energy incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act. The company, Dandelion Energy, is a Google-X spinout and is backed by Bill Gates’ VC firm.
Today, more than 25 percent of Massachusetts residents rely on heating oil, and 52 percent draw from utility gas to heat their homes. These resources are increasingly expensive for homeowners while undermining the state’s climate objectives.
Massachusetts residents can combat climate change while lowering their heating and cooling costs and improving in-home air quality with a Dandelion Geothermal System using a ground source heat pump. Massachusetts homeowners can qualify for a $15,000 rebate for a new Dandelion Geothermal system with MassSave incentives. Geothermal systems are also exempt from state sales tax. When coupled with federal tax incentives and financing for upfront costs, accessing geothermal heating and cooling is more affordable than ever before.
Jurgen Weiss, an Energy Economist, who, while teaching at Harvard Business School recently wrote a case study on Dandelion, has explored whether geothermal energy could work in his home and emphasized the importance of the company’s announcement, “Geothermal heating and cooling is so much more energy efficient than other options. For people like me heating their homes with gas, it is the only technology that has a chance of both being carbon free and lowering my heating bills. Since we need gas users to switch to carbon-free heating and many won’t do it if they have to pay a lot more, geothermal is likely key to the state meeting its climate goals. Dandelion Energy is exactly the type of company that we want to see opening operations in Massachusetts so that more of us have good geothermal options.”
With geothermal heating and cooling, homeowners eliminate fuel delivery and heating bills,
saving thousands on fuel and propane. What’s more, geothermal systems are 30 percent more efficient in cooling mode than central AC. Homeowners will see meaningful reductions in their overall energy bills. Geothermal, or ground source heat pumps, provides the cleanest and most efficient heating and air conditioning at significant savings over fuel oil, propane, and natural gas systems. Dandelion Home Geothermal Systems can be purchased for cash or with financing. To learn more about geothermal heating and cooling or to see if your home qualifies, visit https://dandelionenergy.com/.