Google spinoff Dandelion uses ground energy to heat and cool homes
1–10 of 62 posts
Re: Google spinoff Dandelion uses ground energy to heat and cool homes
#2There doesn't appear to be anything new about this, ground-source heat pumps have been available for domestic use for quite some time.
And going by the name, and looks, it's actually an air-source heat-pump, but I could be wrong.
Re: Google spinoff Dandelion uses ground energy to heat and cool homes
#3Dandelion Air is a geothermal system that moves heat between the house and the ground using plastic pipes and a pump -- bringing heat to the building in winter and pushing heat to the ground in summer.
So what we've been putting in homes for ~40 years already. Thanks Google!
Re: Google spinoff Dandelion uses ground energy to heat and cool homes
#4There doesn't appear to be anything new about this, ground-source heat pumps have been available for domestic use for quite some time. And going by the name, and looks, it's actually an air-source heat-pump, but I could be wrong.
I had heard that these types of systems existed/were used in places like Iceland (or was it Sweden?)...But I wasn't aware they could be leveraged in areas where there might not be as much underground geothermal activity. Unless, I'm misunderstanding what dependencies are needed for these types of systems to work. In any case, if this is not new, any competition to the way we heat/cool our homes - assuming it brings lower prices/more options - is welcomed!
Re: Google spinoff Dandelion uses ground energy to heat and cool homes
#5So, a geothermal heat pump?
Re: Google spinoff Dandelion uses ground energy to heat and cool homes
#6Misprint? Commonly available ground source systems can save upto 75%. That's way ahead of the article's claimed 20%. At 20% it's simply not worth the cost of installation.
Dandelion's website won't load to let me check.
Re: Google spinoff Dandelion uses ground energy to heat and cool homes
#7So, a geothermal heat pump? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_heat_pump
It's not a novelty, but they aim to bring traditional costs down.
One of the founders is Bob Wyman, who was one of the most interesting characters at Google. He could talk for hours about prospective search (he had founded PubSub), his time at DEC working on All-in-1 or his advocacy to get rid of No. 6 fuel oil in NYC buildings.
Re: Google spinoff Dandelion uses ground energy to heat and cool homes
#8Misprint? Commonly available ground source systems can save upto 75%. That's way ahead of the article's claimed 20%. At 20% it's simply not worth the cost of installation. Dandelion's website won't load to let me check.
Maybe it's 20 % independently of any temperature gradient ;)
Re: Google spinoff Dandelion uses ground energy to heat and cool homes
#9There doesn't appear to be anything new about this, ground-source heat pumps have been available for domestic use for quite some time. And going by the name, and looks, it's actually an air-source heat-pump, but I could be wrong.
I had heard that these types of systems existed/were used in places like Iceland (or was it Sweden?)...But I wasn't aware they could be leveraged in areas where there might not be as much underground geothermal activity. Unless, I'm misunderstanding what dependencies are needed for these types of systems to work. In any case, if this is not new, any competition to the way we heat/cool our homes - assuming it brings l…
Geo-thermal is a little misleading because the systems you are talking about use very high temperatures found in volcanic parts of the world, which is obviously pretty easy. A ground source heat pump only requires 10 degrees or more of heat difference, easily found 30 metres below ground in most moderate temperature countries - it then uses the same technology as air-conditioning.
Loads of them are already installed in the UK.
Re: Google spinoff Dandelion uses ground energy to heat and cool homes
#10> Installation isn't cheap. Dandelion estimates the cost at around $20,000, depending on home size and state and federal incentives. But the company notes that consumers are likely to save about 20 percent annually on the cost of home heating and cooling.
Are they aiming at regular home owners?
Our heating/cooling is ~ $2.4k/year - about $200/month. Fluctuates - summertime is sometimes higher, winter can bring high heating months, but our electric bill is often under $100 for the spring months, so ... it evens out.
This would mean a ... $500 savings per year? $40/month? Are other people paying much much higher heating/cooling costs than I am, and this would make sense?