Displaying items by tag: Katie Ullmann

SARATOGA COUNTY – A popular solar company in the Hudson Valley has partnered with a geothermal firm to expand both types of energy consumption at homes in Saratoga County.

On Monday, only hours before a well-publicized eclipse captivated people in upstate New York, a partnership was announced between Hudson Solar and Dandelion Energy. Both companies have increased marketing operations in the Capital Region.

In a statement, it was reported that Dandelion has developed “a new geothermal installation process” that “can convert homeowners away from oil or gas heat and offer them substantial savings.”

“A geothermal system uses a heat pump and underground pipes to move heat between the earth and your home—it’s the most efficient way to heat and cool your home,” the company explains on its website (https://dandelionenergy.com).

Jeff Irish, the founder and president of Hudson Solar, said: “Dandelion has lowered the cost of geothermal and set up financing so a homeowner switching to geothermal from oil or propane can save money from day one, just like with solar. When we combine our offerings, we enable customers to save money on their energy bills and completely eliminate their greenhouse gas emissions.”

In a subsequent email, Irish explained that Hudson Solar originally installed geothermal systems after it started as a business nearly 15 years ago. But the company has focused exclusively on solar panels for the last eight, he added.

Irish said “an average single-family home solar system is in the $8,000 to $15,000 range after federal and state incentives and tax credits.”

He added that Dandelion and Hudson Solar “are now working closely together on advertising, information sessions and events to promote geothermal and on-site and community solar” projects.

As a former Town of Rhinebeck Zoning Board of Appeals member, Irish further indicated that he is “sensitive to and experienced with zoning laws and issues.”

Katie Ullmann, vice president of marketing for Dandelion, said in her own email that single-family homeowners who want a geothermal system installed could expect to pay $150 per month over 20 years with no upfront costs; or $20,000 upfront “with no additional costs and minimal long-term maintenance.”

“Either way, when homeowners get our geothermal installation, they completely eliminate their oil, propane or natural gas bills,” Ullmann said. 

Dandelion has an office on Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs, Ullmann explained, and also has partnered with the firm Aztech Geothermal off Route 50 south of Ballston Spa.

Dandelion officially launched on July 6, so local marketing efforts are only just getting organized. An ESPN radio host regularly endorses Dandelion on-air and some outreach is taking place this summer at county and street fairs, Ullmann said.

According to Ryan Riper, director of planning and engineering in the Town of Wilton, at present there are 107 residential and seven commercial solar arrays in Wilton. Town officials are currently reviewing a comprehensive solar zoning policy.

Riper said he is not aware of any homeowners in Wilton who utilize geothermal heating and cooling, though one Route 50 business did install such a system.   

Homeowners who desire to have solar panels installed must apply for a permit, Riper added, so that firefighters can expect to encounter that type of electrical wiring in the case of an emergency.

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