This week on Cool Air, Hot Takes, we’re doing something a little different.

We’re dropping a special crossover episode from our friends over at the Healthy Spaces podcast, featuring our very own Dan Gentry and Charlie Jelen.

Together, they sit down with Dominique Silva and Scott Tew to share how two middle-school friends from Wisconsin ended up in HVAC, what their favorite hot takes from the podcast so far are, and what they do in their day jobs helping customers make real, sustainable and efficient progress across their buildings and systems.

They also break down the four “buckets” of decarbonization, what a systems approach really means, and why energy efficiency is just the beginning. Plus, hot takes on AI, the future of HVAC, growing tomatoes in the desert, and what Dan calls his “favorite first form of decarbonization.”

There’s also:

• How Dan has helped create the perfect environment for designer strawberries
• Why the most disruptive changes in HVAC may still be ahead, and why data will become the most important product in the energy business.
• A Behind the Scenes look at some of the real projects Dan and Charlie are working on.

Got a hot take or question? We want to hear it! Email us at CoolAir.HotTakes@Trane.com or leave us a comment on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.

Cool Air, Hot Takes is a Trane Commercial podcast exploring bold innovations, emerging trends, and game-changing technology in HVAC and energy management. Learn more about the show here.

Follow and stream all episodes now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t forget to also check out the Healthy Spaces podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these ones: RefrigeRANTS: The Good, The Bad, The Banned, How AI is Changing HVAC (and Your Job) with Brainbox AI, Decarbonization: Challenge or Opportunity?

We’re back! Welcome to Season 2 of Cool Air, Hot Takes: the podcast where buildings, energy, and HVAC collide in all the best ways. Hosts Charlie Jelen and Dan Gentry return with fresh (hot) takes, big laughs, and sharp insights into what’s next in the world of HVAC and energy systems.

In this episode, we’re going deep on PIC valves, that’s pressure independent control valves, with Rob Trickett, VP of Sales and Marketing at Flow Control Industries. Ever wonder how a single valve could unlock massive energy savings, fix your delta T issues, or even potentially save you millions of dollars? You’ll want to hear this one.

Rob breaks down:

• What PIC valves are and how they work
• Why systems could be underperforming without them
• Where designers should start integrating them for maximum impact
• How NASA’s Johnson Space Center retrofitted them
• How a Las Vegas stadium shaved $10M off steel costs using PICs

Also in this episode:

• HVAC Headlines: Flow batteries take on the data center energy crisis, and what the Q1 sales in residential heat pump furnaces and air conditioning units say about where the market is heading.
• Listener Mailbag: Can next-gen refrigerants really be "drop-in"? And how do data centers pick their sites?
• Stat of the Day: Which U.S. state has the fastest and slowest drivers?

Send us your hot takes and questions! We want to feature you on the show! You can email us at coolair.hottakes@trane.com, leave us a comment on YouTube or Spotify, or review us on Apple Podcasts. Don’t forget to rate and follow too!

Cool Air, Hot Takes is a Trane Commercial podcast exploring bold innovations, emerging trends, and game-changing technology in HVAC and energy management.

Follow for new episodes and stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The podcast that’s as smart as your building’s thermostat is back!

Hosts Charlie Jelen and Dan Gentry return for Season 2 of Cool Air, Hot Takes, the podcast that dives deep into the future of HVAC, energy systems, and the bold ideas reshaping buildings.

Whether you’re an engineer, designer, facility manager, or just someone who appreciates a healthy delta T, you’re in the right place.

This season, expect bigger ideas, even hotter takes, more interviews with industry leading experts, and of course, Stat of the Day!

New episodes will be dropping every two weeks.

In the meantime, got a hot take or a burning HVAC question? Email us at CoolAir.HotTakes@Trane.com, leave us a question or comment on Spotify or Youtube, or a review on Apple Podcasts.

Follow and stream all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows.

Cool Air, Hot Takes is a Trane Commercial podcast exploring bold innovations, emerging trends, and game-changing technology in HVAC and energy management.