Oil Free Energy Solutions, which began in July 2008, offers a different approach to allow homeowners to save money and eliminate or reduce the dependence of the use of fossil fuels.
The company services the Hartford area to the Hudson County area as well as Westchester County through the Massachusetts border.
"We really believe in the product and we really believe in the savings that it can bring to the client," said Mr. Carlson. "We believe in the reduction of cost in fossil fuel."
Mr. Carlson began as a builder, and has been in the building trade for 35 years. He installed geothermal systems and cooling systems for his clients as a builder before co-founding the new firm.
In coming together, Mr. Carlson and Mr. Squires understand the need for homeowners to concentrate on alternative energy solutions.
"We had such good luck with the [geothermal systems], that we felt it was a good time for it, it was pre-stimulus," said Mr. Carlson, a Woodbury resident. "The stimulus has been a help to us."
They are not a solar photovoltaic installation company, but concentrate on solar pool heating and solar hot water systems. The larger overarching solar photovoltaic aspect is coordinated through another company, Consulting Engineering Services in Middletown.
"Our primary focus right now is geothermal heating and cooling, and we are just initiating projects that will involve wind," said Mr. Carlson.
When meeting a prospective client, weatherization is the first option they discuss with their clients.
"Weatherization is currently the most valuable and cost effective way to spend money on an existing or new building," said Mr. Carlson. "If you can save the heat, you don't have to buy it."
Mr. Squires said the energy is not wasted if the amount lost is dramatically reduced, and it is the best return on an investment at this point.
According to their Web site www.oilfreenow.com, the partners' goal is to supply their clients with well designed and well installed geothermal systems, sensible solar products, wind power and emerging energy saving technology. The technology helps eliminate or reduce America's dependency on foreign oil and fossil fuel products.
Mr. Squires has been building for 20 years, and he built his first Energy Star home in 1996. He has been involved in conservation organizations in many levels.
"This is right and feels right, and I certainly believe and enjoy what we're doing," said Mr. Squires, a Vermont native.
The two spend a lot of time with each client to provide them the best quality work possible. A lengthy process for each project ensures the best quality installation.
The company will provide an audit on the insulation and weather-related values, prices for each building vary.
"Once you do the weatherization package and you have made that house really tight, you need to bring that fresh-air in, so our systems always include the [geothermal systems], but they always include a ventilation package as well," said Mr. Carlson.
The company is accredited with the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) and certified with an organization called Building Performance Institute.
Mr. Squires was trained as energy crafted builder in 1990s, which has very similar focus that building performance does, with regard to health, safety, comfort, durability and efficiency.
They are certified as building and building envelope analysts. They assess an existing building or new building and the energy needs so they can properly size the geo-system.
As envelope analysts, they can make accurate assessments of building installation quality with recommendations of tightening up or sealing the building, ensuring the building has proper ventilation.
"The tighter and more air efficient and the better the building is sealed, the more important it is to actually have mechanical ventilation," said Mr. Carlson. "We want to build a house as tight as possible."
Mr. Carlson said that a higher percentage of the clients choose improved weatherization over geothermal.
"We do everything from the drilling of the wells to the complete installation of the duct system if that's what the client wants," said Mr. Carlson.
The two have seen a tremendous amount of interest in geothermal systems and a huge influx in wind. Mr. Squires said the stimulus money is useful, but it is not immediate gratification.
"What is more stimulating is, as the price of oil and gas oil goes up, the comparative ongoing cost between fossil fuels and geothermal makes geothermal that much better," said Mr. Squires.
Mr. Carlson added that the stimulus has allowed them to bring the cost of geothermal systems in pretty close to what a conventional system would be. The only drawback is that it's not a rebate it's a tax credit the client has to pay for the system up front.
According to Mr. Squires, one of the huge benefits with these systems when they are paid with the mortgage, clients have a fixed cost over time of providing heating and cooling to the home and built into a mortgage it becomes a tax-deductible expense.
With fossil fuels, people are exposed to the variations of price over time, the purchase of the fuel is not a tax deductible and people don't know what it's going to cost over time.
"People think of the geothermal basically as the heating, it's not, it's heating, it's cooling and its domestic hot water, and if you need it is hot water for radiant heat," said Mr. Carlson. "It's an amazingly efficient system that can provide you with all the needs that you want."
Geothermal systems can be retro-fitted into a home and can be done on limited acreage. What the company does is focus on tightening up the house and install a smaller system which is more cost effective to purchase up front, but being smaller it will cost less to operate over the long haul.
"Geo-systems can be designed for any house, for any heat loss. It's more cost effective to invest money in weatherization and seal the building and then put the geo in, because the geo costs much less," said Mr. Carlson.
For more information, e-mail Mr. Carlson at Brad@oilfreenow.com and Mr. Squires at David@oilfreenow.com. Mr. Carlson can be reached by phone at 860-488-3627 and Mr. Squires at 860-488-4653; or visit www.oilfreenow.com.
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