Robison Oil continues to explore alternative energy sources for the home

The Home of Comfort

Heating and cooling households for more than a century, Robison Oil continues to explore alternative energy sources for the home. We find out more with President and CEO, Daniel Singer .?

Writer: Jack Salter ?|?Project Manager: David Knott

“The volatility of traditional energy sources has really sent the consumer shopping for alternatives, right at a time when renewables are hitting the market with a lot of momentum.”?

For just over a century, homeowners have trusted Robison Oil (Robison) to warm and cool their homes, in which time the New York-based company has grown to supply more than just heating oil.

Committed to the changing demands of home energy consumers, Robison has become a one-stop-shop for all energy needs and total home comfort. This is reflected in the opening words of Daniel Singer, President and CEO, who recognizes that the public is embracing alternative, clean energy sources in today’s homes.

“I think the market for home energy consumption is at a fascinating inflection point. We’re at a turning point where people are now realizing that they can incorporate natural energy resources that are available right around us as their fundamental, primary fuel source,” he adds.

As well as supplying natural gas and electricity at great rates, Robison delivers clean-burning biofuel, services and installs all types of heating and air conditioning systems, solves indoor air quality issues, and provides quality licensed plumbing and electrical services.?

Green Solutions?

With a holistic view of powering the home, customers are helped by Robison to choose the best and greenest option. Robison’s biofuel heating oil, for instance, is biodegradable, non-toxic, free from sulfur, and helps to reduce carbon emissions; best of all, its clean-burning properties may even prolong the lifespan of home heating systems.?

“All of the petroleum products that we sell to our oil heat customers have double the legal requirement of biofuel blended with it, to help all of our customers reduce their carbon footprint and prove that these renewable sources of fuel can provide equally reliable sources of heat as traditional petroleum products,” notes Singer.?

Indeed, using clean, renewable energy is the way to go not only to help protect the environment, mitigate the effects of climate change, and conserve natural resources, but to preserve systems and save homeowners money on their monthly energy bills.?

Robison is at the forefront of green initiatives, by offering customers incentives to make the switch to clean energy and biofuel.?

“If customers are going to be exploring alternative sources of energy, I’d rather they came to us about it than ask a competitor,” Singer states. “I’d like to spend more of our time understanding the virtue of our competitors’ alternative products, because if there is something we can learn from that, then we’ll be able to offer it to our customers as well.”

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ROBISON CORE VALUES – AT A GLANCE

1.?Deliver exemplary customer service?– Setting the standard and striving to exceed customer expectations.

2.?Embrace and create change?– In a dynamic economy with changing consumer preferences, Robison embraces fresh ways of conducting business and diversifying its products and services.

3.?Be passionate and keep it fun?– Embracing each task it sets out to do, no one simply “goes through the motions” at Robison.

4.?Take the initiative?– Creating an environment where employees feel comfortable identifying problems, and are rewarded for taking the initiative to solve them.

5.?Safety?– Sharing a personal and professional commitment to protecting the health and safety of employees, customers, and communities.

6.?Stick to the budget?– Doing more with less and recognizing cost-effective job performance, without sacrificing customer service.

7.?Understanding context?– Every employee understands what they are doing fits into the bigger picture, and is an active participant.

8.?Accountability and teamwork?– Standing behind the actions taken and embracing the ability of co-workers.

9.?Open and honest communication?– Valuing dialogue and respecting the confidentiality of private communications.

10.?Be humble?– Regardless of how well Robison performs, it is always open to learning how it can do better.

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Power of Heat Pumps

Tax credits offered by many states, as well as the federal government, make geothermal installations even more attractive. New York state has just announced a new state tax credit of 25 percent of the cost of geothermal systems up to $5,000, and generous rebates are also being offered by Con Edison and the New York State Energy and Resource and Development Authority .

A heat pump is part of a heating and cooling system, and is installed outside the home. Like an air conditioner, it can cool homes but is also capable of providing heat. In the cooler winter months, heat pumps pull heat from the cold outdoor air and transfer it indoors; on warmer days, heat is pulled from indoor air to cool the home.

Heat pumps are powered by electricity rather than fossil fuels, and transfer heat using refrigerant to provide comfort all year round, making them an environmentally friendly option. They also offer improved indoor air quality, efficient heating and cooling, and convenience and longevity with minimal maintenance required.

As such, Robison is investing heavily in educating both its staff and customer base on the virtues of heat pumps, as a way to maintain comfortable temperatures in the home all year round.

The company is always encouraging suppliers to stay on top of the latest trends, such as heat pumps, making sure that they are exploring all the alternatives.

Total Home Comfort Solutions?

Customers in the market reaching out to Robison for new heating, cooling and indoor air quality equipment have come to the right place.

Offering a complete line of top-name brands for boilers, furnaces, air conditioners, and more, Robison’s experts will patiently go through the process of determining the best systems based on lifestyles and living spaces, and provide a fair estimate for both the sale price and the charge to properly install the system.

“At the end of the day, it’s really about what the consumers want. We try to remain as agnostic as we can in terms of what people need to keep themselves warm or cool, and to keep the air they breathe clean,” Singer explains.?

“Our core business is keeping our customers warm and comfortable in their homes, and we’ll do it in any way that is cost-effective and reliable”

Daniel Singer , President and CEO, Robison Oil

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GEOTHERMAL PARTNERSHIP

Oil, propane and gas are all trusted sources of energy used to heat homes, and heat pumps are the latest alternative offered to Westchester and Putnam homeowners by Robison.

Recognizing the customer’s demand for green solutions, Robison has announced a new partnership with Dandelion Energy (Dandelion), the number one installer of residential geothermal in the country.

Singer says this is the next logical step for the company, since the market for green energy solutions is growing. Geothermal energy uses heat radiating from the earth, so by installing heat pumps, homeowners can harness this energy to both heat and cool their homes.

“Owners of new homes, or ones planning renovations, could benefit by looking into geothermal heating and cooling as an alternative to conventional energy sources,’’ he informs us. “By partnering with Dandelion, we can offer our customers the best in-class solution for ground source heat pumps as well as the Robison service and customer support they have come to rely upon.’’

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Energy Efficiency?

Robison has long worked with its customers to help them conserve energy, not only to save money, but to save the environment.

The company has always been committed to providing products to maintain a healthy home. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company stepped up its installation of clean air solutions including UV lights in HVAC systems to sterilize and kill germs, whilst whole home humidifiers and dehumidifiers can help reduce mold and other allergens to promote clean air.

Regular servicing of equipment, installing smart thermostats and updating outdated heating and air conditioning systems with higher efficiency ratings, can also pay dividends.

“A new Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System can reduce your energy bill by as much as 20 percent,’’ said Singer. “There are many options. Homeowners should evaluate SEER ratings to compare different brands of products with similar efficiency ratings.”

Maintenance is key to energy efficiency, and Robison prides itself on having the most experienced technicians in the field.

Tasked with properly setting up, maintaining and repairing home comfort solutions, the company’s service and installation technicians are some of the most important members of the Robison family.

“We have highly trained, union-certified technicians that are best-in-class and pride themselves on their workmanship, presentation, and ability to interact with customers.

“Our technicians are really our customer service reps. They are trusted advisors going into people’s homes, and that is what I think has helped us to earn a reputation for our customer service,” Singer tells us.

Robison is also blessed with what it believes to be the finest, most professional, and most experienced group of delivery personnel in Westchester and the surrounding areas of New York.

They have amassed over 225 years of combined experience in making both residential and commercial heating oil deliveries, taking great pride in the safe, clean and efficient way they provide their essential services to home and business owners.?

“Our centenary was really a celebration of the communities that we service as much as a celebration of ourselves”

Daniel Singer , President and CEO, Robison Oil

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WHAT IS THE ROBISON ADVANTAGE?

In the business of home comfort, the biggest difference between companies is the level of customer satisfaction.

All of Robison’s staff are trained, knowledgeable, and trustworthy; whether speaking to a technician in the field or a customer service representative on a cold winter night, customers will encounter employees that are dedicated to meeting their needs.

As a fourth-generation family business, the longevity of Robison is built on the satisfaction of repeat customers, who trust the company with the comfort of their families year after year. Dedication to maintaining that trust is the ultimate Robison Advantage.

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Family is Fuel

The successful growth of Robison, who recently celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021, can also be attributed to the fact that the company remains a family-run organization, led by Daniel together with his brother, David. The journey started back in 1921, when architectural engineer Eben Robison opened a small office in downtown Hartsdale.?

“We’re the fourth generation of a family business that has always lived and worked in the local community, so our centenary was really a celebration of the communities that we service as much as a celebration of ourselves,” says Singer, who also serves on the board of the Feeding Westchester foodbank.

“Because of this, we don’t view our customers as business targets, but as our neighbors. These are people that my brother and I interact with on a regular basis, instead of viewing them through a spreadsheet or a report.”?

As practicing good corporate citizenship has always been important to Robison, the company has built solid partnerships and working relationships with many non-profit organizations, supporting community events such as Volunteer NY’s Volunteer Spirit Awards and 9/11 Serve and Remember tribute, Feeding Westchester’s Golden Scoop, and Westchester County Parks Foundation events like Winter Wonderland.

It is these values that have made the company New York’s trusted source for everything related to home comfort quality, from heating to air conditioning, air cleaners and more. It is Robison’s sincere commitment to keeping people comfortable, rather than to one particular way of doing it, that has earned the community’s trust.?

“Our core business is keeping our customers warm and comfortable in their homes, and we’ll do it in any way that is cost-effective and reliable,” outlines Singer.?

“We have a set of core company values, the first of which is all about exceeding customers’ expectations. We view ourselves as a home comfort company, and we happen to market in an area that is fairly affluent, however we want to remain competitively priced and make sure that we’re being fair with our pricing model.”?

Keeping customers and communities comfortable is what Robison will aspire to do for another 100 years to come, reducing carbon footprints and being good citizens of the planet in the process.

Link: https://www.northamericaoutlookmag.com/company-profiles/97-robison-oil/reader

Article first appeared in issue 9 of North America Outlook Magazine.

Link: https://www.northamericaoutlookmag.com/magazine/issues/10-north-america-outlook-issue-09-april-22

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