Dandelion Energy has teamed up with American house builder Lennar Corporation on a partnership aimed at making geothermal heating and cooling the standard in new home construction.
Over the next two years, Dandelion's innovative geothermal systems will be integrated into more than 1,500 new Lennar homes built in Colorado. Dandelion is a leading home geothermal heating and cooling company in the USA, while Lennar Corporation is one of the nation's top homebuilders.
“This partnership with Lennar sets a new benchmark for affordable, energy efficient and high-quality home heating and cooling,” said Daniel Yates, CEO at Dandelion Energy.
“We're excited to bring our geothermal technology into a high-production environment and accelerate our efforts to deliver the unparalleled comfort, performance and cost savings of geothermal heat pumps to Colorado homeowners.”
In a statement, Dandelion said that geothermal offered the lowest monthly energy bills for homeowners who are expected to save approximately US$30mn over 20 years compared to heating with air-source heat pumps.
The company has developed a streamlined installation process that makes it easier and more affordable for builders and homeowners to benefit from geothermal heat pumps, eliminating the need for outdoor AC units and traditional heating systems.
“Our collaboration with Dandelion Energy brings innovative geothermal technology into our homes, offering Colorado homeowners a cleaner, more efficient way to heat and cool their homes, while reducing long-term costs and future-proofing their investment,” said Stuart Miller, Executive Chairman and Co-CEO of Lennar.
“It supports our broader commitment to making high-quality, attainable housing more accessible.”
Dandelion says that homeowners in participating communities will enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a low-maintenance, resilient and emissions-free heating and cooling solution.
The initiative also received backing from Colorado’s Governor, Jared Polis.
"Geothermal energy — the heat beneath our feet — is a clean energy option that will help save Coloradans money and protect our state for future generations,” he said.
“I’m very excited that Dandelion is building on Colorado's leadership on geothermal by connecting more than 1,500 Colorado homes to low-cost heating and cooling. It’s good for Coloradans, for our air quality and our economy.”
This initiative will benefit from incentives including Colorado's state tax credit for geothermal heat pumps and energy utility Xcel Energy’s geothermal and all-electric new construction programmes.
With incentives, the up-front cost of geothermal heat pumps is significantly reduced for homebuilders like Lennar, enabling broader adoption and significant benefits to Colorado residents.
The news also received heavyweight endorsement from Senator Michael Bennet, Senator John Hickenlooper and Congressman Jason Crow, who said in a joint statement: “Colorado is leading the nation in the transition to clean energy, and today's groundbreaking marks a major step forward in that effort.
"With this investment, we are not only reducing carbon emissions but helping to lower energy costs for families. Colorado is proving that we can fight climate change, create good-paying jobs, and ensure a healthier future for all.”