Kathy Hannun
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, DANDELION ENERGY
IT DIDN’T TAKE Kathy Hannun long to realize that civil and environmental engineering classes were catching her attention as a college student. This civil engineering major went on to become a TED fellow, attend the 2020 State of the Union Address, and be named an Inc. 100 Female Founder for her geothermal energy startup, Dandelion Energy—and those are just a few of her achievements.
Through Dandelion, more than 1,200 homeowners have switched from fossil fuel heating to geothermal heat pumps—systems that transfer heat from below the Earth’s surface into buildings during winter and the reverse during summer. Dandelion has influenced federal, state, and local policies to make geothermal energy more cost-effective for homeowners, and has raised awareness of the technology, according to Hannun.
“As it turns out, one of the very fast ways to learn how to start a company is by starting a company.”
Kathy Hannun
“Geothermal heat pumps are going to become much more popular, especially in new homes in cold climates—but also in existing homes, and all over the U.S.,” Hannun said. Dandelion is working toward making this happen by decreasing costs, bringing drilling equipment to the U.S. that is optimized for geothermal, and demonstrating to stakeholders how geothermal is often the best solution for zero emissions heating and cooling.
Hannun’s achievements did not come without their challenges. “I had no idea how to start a company. From the legal aspects, to fundraising, to making a business plan, to hiring a team, I had no experience to guide me,” she said. Despite being the most difficult part of her professional career—or perhaps because of this—Dandelion has also been Hannun’s proudest accomplishment.
The method Hannun advises the next generation of engineers to take when starting something new: Learning by doing, as much as possible. Diving in, initiating projects, and getting real-world experience not only helps you learn quickly, but also builds the habit of not being afraid to try new and challenging things, Hannun said.
To hear a complete discussion with Hannun, listen to her interview on this episode of ASME TechCast.
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