We're environmentalists, gardeners and ecologists, by nature. But living in a series of cold, drafty houses got us thinking: Others probably were, too. Now, we help home and business owners make their buildings a lot more comfortable and much more energy efficient. We serve communities in and around Tompkins County, NY including Ithaca, Dryden, Trumansburg, Danby, and Watkins Glen.We are qualified.
Snug Planet is accredited by BPI.
As certified Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analysts, we are trained in BPI's rigorous house-as-a-system approach and keep conscientiously up-to-date on certification. We are certified to conduct blower door tests, combustion appliance inspection and repair, air quality testing including carbon monoxide detection, duct testing and airflow testing in addition to our other contracting services. For more information about BPI's standards, see their Technical Standards for Building Analysts (PDF). All of our energy audits are done by BPI-certified building analysts, and our contracting work reflects the latest knowledge and advances in building science.
We are an Energy Star Partner.
Home Performance with Energy Star is a subsidiary of the EPA's Energy Star program. The Home Performance Program, as opposed to Energy Star Homes (which is a label for new buildings), is focused exclusively on upgrading the energy efficiency of existing homes. The program operates through a system of regional partners, all of whom must hold a certification from the Building Performance Institute. Snug Planet is proud to partner with ENERGY STAR, and you can find more information at the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) website.
Snug Planet is a BPI Accredited Contractor and an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm.
Company Values
At Snug Planet, we care about our people and the earth, and we take pride in delivering environmentally-sound solutions to building performance problems in our community.
- We are a Living Wage Employer certified by the Tompkins County Workers' Center, and we provide on-going training, health insurance and retirement benefits to our employees.
- As a Tompkins County certified Rebusiness Partner, Snug Planet is committed to minimizing business and construction waste.
- We are members of the Ithaca Green Building Alliance, the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, and the Sustainable Enterprise and Entrepreneur Network.
Who We Are
The Snug team is a small, highly-trained group of home performance professionals. We focus on customer satisfaction and keeping our staff trained, certified and educated on the latest in home performance. We are a locally-owned business that depends on your good word for our next job. If you are interested, references are available.
Jon Harrod
Originally trained as an ecologist, Jon got hooked on energy efficiency in 2000 — and he has worked as an energy auditor, installer, and trainer ever since. In 2006, Jon founded Snug Planet with the vision of a company centered around technical excellence and exemplary customer service. Jon holds multiple certifications from the Building Performance Institute and is secretary of the New York Building Performance Contractors Association. His articles on energy efficiency and green building have appeared in Home Energy Magazine and several local newspapers. When not at work, Jon enjoys bicycling, reading and exploring natural areas with Elisabeth and their sons.
Elisabeth Ha
rrod
Elisabeth, a self-described knitting nerd, is the voice of Snug Planet! Her passion for saving energy and her background as an educator make her the ideal person to talk to when you call. Because she loves to connect with people, you know that Elisabeth will help you through your project in a friendly way. "Having an energy audit is the beginning of a relationship with Snug," says Elisabeth. "Working with homeowners is better than working for them."
Lexie Hain
Lexie has a Bachelors from Cornell University and a Masters in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to co-founding Snug Planet in 2006, she worked as a science teacher, curriculum developer and carpenter. She is certified as a Building Analyst by the Building Performance Institute. In addition to her responsibilities at Snug Planet, Lexie is co-founder and partner at Motherplants Ltd., an Enfield company that grows plants for living roofs.
Thom Fuller
When Thom joined Snug Planet in 2007, he brought with him a wide range of life and work experience and a lot of stories. In addition to working as a bank manager, funeral director, and dean of students at a mortuary academy, he has done extensive renovations on his 19th century farmhouse in Danby. An authority on green burial practices, Thom speaks on the subject to funeral directors around the state.
Garrett Miller
Garrett, originally from Dryden, does not rest. He splits his time as Production Manager for Snug, construction manager and foreman for a home he built for his parents, and farmer, orchardist, teamster & infrastructure guru at The Good Life Farm. His farming background includes time at North Carolina’s Turtle Island Preserve and Mark Shepard’s New Forest Farm in Viola, Wisconsin.
Blake Reid
Blake brings a degree in physics, a background in building science, and strong project management skills to Snug. A former Peace Corps Volunteer and educator for the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, Blake now calls Trumansburg home. As one of Snug's auditors, Blake lives by certain maxims: "Different things are important to different people," "Read the instructions," and "Clean things work better."
James Dulle
James, probably our most eco-minded Snug, lives completely off the grid in an earth-sheltered home, on a homestead surrounded by state forest. He, his wife and two daughters keep a cow, goats, chickens, and ducks, and cultivate vegetables, flowers, and fruit. When not milking his cow, his passions include energy efficiency and automobile fuel economy, and he routinely gets 55 MPG in his non-hybrid internal-combustion Honda Civic.
Jake Bengeyfield
Jake has a degree in conservation biology from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and his family owns Red Dog Farm in Moravia, where they raise grass-fed, certified Angus beef as well as all-natural pastured poultry and hay. A former lead guitarist with a touring heavy metal band, Jake is a whiskey aficionado, sci-fi fan, and when time allows he likes to go trout fishing.
Andrew Kellner
Andrew is our resident solar PV and wind turbine answer-man, having gone to school for mechanical engineering and worked as a renewables installer. Originally from Connecticut, Andrew is an avid mountain biker and looks forward to snowboard season. He is a self-described "conspiracy factist" and draws inspiration from Bruce Lee, George Carlin, and Nikola Tesla, but not necessarily in that order.
Jeff Luoma
Jeff is a certified Building Analyst Professional and has years of experience with construction and hardscape installations in Ithaca and Seattle. He holds a Yale Masters degree, and he's been a Peace Corps Volunteer, tall ship deckhand, Bering Sea catch observer, organic farmer, environmental educator, and a circus performer. Around town, you may see him in the music and dance scene or 'jeerleading' for the Ithaca Women's Roller Derby.
