Re:Google spinoff Dandelion uses ground energy to heat and c...
by reaperducer on Wednesday May 30, 2018 @12:29PM
(#17189088)
Thanks for pointing out how this is different. On the surface it just seemed like yet another tech company reinventing the wheel and calling it a "smart" product.
Unfortunately, it's still not all that different from traditional geothermal with a "Google" sticker on it for me to really consider it innovative.
The problem is its initial target market: The Hudson Valley. Since Dandelion is based in NYC, it makes sense. But it will only really benefit on the heating side. I've owned several homes in the Hudson Valley (Middletown, Saugerties, Goshen) and yes they used heating oil in the winter, but no -- none of them had air conditioning. Unless something has changed in the last 10 years, residential AC isn't exactly widespread in homes over 10 years old, and (last I was there) electric was displacing heating oil in new construction.
Unfortunately, it's still not all that different from traditional geothermal with a "Google" sticker on it for me to really consider it innovative.
The problem is its initial target market: The Hudson Valley. Since Dandelion is based in NYC, it makes sense. But it will only really benefit on the heating side. I've owned several homes in the Hudson Valley (Middletown, Saugerties, Goshen) and yes they used heating oil in the winter, but no -- none of them had air conditioning. Unless something has changed in the last 10 years, residential AC isn't exactly widespread in homes over 10 years old, and (last I was there) electric was displacing heating oil in new construction.