How I Built This with Guy Raz Tapping the heat beneath your feet with Kathy Hannun of Dandelion Energy
40 snips
Jun 8, 2023 Kathy Hannun, Founder of Dandelion Energy, shares her journey to making geothermal energy a reality for households in the U.S. Growing up in New Hampshire, she witnessed the Environmental impact of traditional heating methods. This conversation dives into the benefits of geothermal heat pumps, emphasizing their potential in combatting climate change. Kathy also discusses the challenges faced by her company in overcoming high installation costs and streamlining adoption, showcasing successful models from Sweden that inspire a greener future.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Geothermal's Potential
- Geothermal heat pumps offer significant cost savings and emissions reductions compared to traditional heating.
- The high upfront cost and complexity of installation are the main barriers to wider adoption.
Learning from Sweden
- Existing drilling rigs were unsuitable for residential geothermal installation, posing a major challenge.
- A trip to Sweden, where geothermal is common, provided solutions and inspiration for Dandelion Energy.
Initial Model Struggles
- Dandelion Energy's initial marketplace model, relying on HVAC contractors, faced numerous challenges.
- These included sales, customer experience issues, and mispricing, leading to financial difficulties.