# Tapping the heat beneath your feet with Kathy Hannun of Dandelion Energy

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-06-08
- Length: 31m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-08-tapping-the-heat-beneath-your-feet-with-kathy-hannun-of-dandelion-energy

## Summary

Kathy Hannun, founder of Dandelion Energy, explains how she spun out the geothermal heating company from Google’s X lab to make ground-source heat pumps accessible for US homeowners. She details the initial failure of a contractor marketplace model and the pivotal decision to vertically integrate by hiring their own installers, which drastically improved economics and customer experience. Hannun discusses the technical advantages of geothermal over air-source systems, the impact of federal tax credits, and the company's expansion into new construction and new markets.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-08-tapping-the-heat-beneath-your-feet-with-kathy-hannun-of-dandelion-energy#t=0) Introduction: Kathy Hannun and Dandelion Energy
- [1:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-08-tapping-the-heat-beneath-your-feet-with-kathy-hannun-of-dandelion-energy#t=113) The Origin Story at Google X
- [5:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-08-tapping-the-heat-beneath-your-feet-with-kathy-hannun-of-dandelion-energy#t=314) How Geothermal Heat Pumps Work
- [8:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-08-tapping-the-heat-beneath-your-feet-with-kathy-hannun-of-dandelion-energy#t=507) The Drilling Challenge and Swedish Solutions
- [14:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-08-tapping-the-heat-beneath-your-feet-with-kathy-hannun-of-dandelion-energy#t=870) Failing the Contractor Marketplace Model
- [17:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-08-tapping-the-heat-beneath-your-feet-with-kathy-hannun-of-dandelion-energy#t=1048) Pivoting to Vertical Integration
- [20:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-08-tapping-the-heat-beneath-your-feet-with-kathy-hannun-of-dandelion-energy#t=1247) Reducing Costs and Leveraging Policy
- [25:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-08-tapping-the-heat-beneath-your-feet-with-kathy-hannun-of-dandelion-energy#t=1537) Geothermal vs. Air-Source Efficiency
- [30:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-08-tapping-the-heat-beneath-your-feet-with-kathy-hannun-of-dandelion-energy#t=1816) Expansion Strategy and New Construction

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Dandelion Energy (company)
- Google X (company)
- Waymo (product)
- Wing (product)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Lenar (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Geothermal Breakthrough: Heating Homes Smarter, Cheaper, and Cleaner with Dan Yates](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2026-01-08-the-geothermal-breakthrough-heating-homes-smarter-cheaper-and-cleaner-with-dan-y) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Using Efficient Heat Pumps to Cut CO2 Emissions with Paul Lambert, Founder and CEO of Quilt](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-08-31-using-efficient-heat-pumps-to-cut-co2-emissions-with-paul-lambert-founder-and-ce) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Decarbonizing Heating and Housing Spaces: A Conversation with Jane Melia, Co-Founder and CEO of Harvest](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-08-03-decarbonizing-heating-and-housing-spaces-a-conversation-with-jane-melia-co-found) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Getting heat pumps right](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-11-14-getting-heat-pumps-right) (Catalyst)
- [Could geothermal become a major zero-emissions player?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-09-09-could-geothermal-become-a-major-zero-emissions-player) (Catalyst)

## Citing this page

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