Welcome to Cool Air, Hot Takes, the podcast that’s as smart as your building’s thermostat and twice as fun. Hosted by Charlie Jelen and Dan Gentry, two HVAC pros with over 30 years of combined experience and a lifetime of friendship, this show is your go-to for the latest in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, industry news, and cutting-edge HVAC trends. Charlie is a building-systems expert passionate about solving complex problems, and Dan, an Applications Engineer with a knack for energy-efficient design and HVAC troubleshooting, bring their expertise (and plenty of hot takes) to every episode. Together, they dive into topics like the latest trends and systems redefining buildings and Industrial systems , and the future of AI in the industry, from smart thermostats to data centers. They’ll look at what’s up with all these tech companies buying nuclear power plants, and what does it mean for the future of climate control? Expect in-depth interviews with industry-leading experts, practical tips for engineers and contractors, and funny stories from that job that went sideways. Whether you’re designing ductwork, conducting energy audits, or upgrading to sustainable HVAC systems, this podcast is built to keep you informed and entertained. We want to hear from you! Email us CoolAir.HotTakes@trane.com with your questions, HVAC hacks, or the funniest thing that’s ever happened on a job, and we might feature it in an episode. Follow Cool Air, Hot Takes from Trane wherever you get your podcasts, and join us as we tackle the big questions and the finer points of thermodynamics—one hot take at a time. About Trane Commercial Trane Commercial, part of Trane Technologies, is a leading provider of innovative climate control solutions and energy services tailored for commercial environments. The company focuses on optimizing indoor climates through advanced HVAC systems, building automation, and sustainability initiatives. With a commitment to decarbonization, Trane aims to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings while enhancing comfort and efficiency. Learn more at: https://www.trane.com/commercial/north-america/ Meet the Hosts Charlie Jelen has been working with HVAC systems for over 15 years, specializing in sustainable solutions. At Trane Commercial North America, he focuses on advancing cutting edge building and industrial systems. With a background in consulting and system engineering, Charlie is committed to delivering solutions for the hardest challenges facing clients today. Dan Gentry is an Applications Engineer. With expertise in chiller plants, heat recovery, and heat pump systems, he focuses on reliable and efficient system design.
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Episode #31
Submarines, Server Farms, and the Future of AI
Sep 29, 202632 min
From submarines to servers, today’s guest is Adrian Hilderbrand, a former nuclear electrician’s mate who breaks down how the skills that kept a nuclear reactor cool translate directly to keeping hyperscale data centers running. Now a principal technical program manager at Eaton, Adrian shares why he thinks small modular reactors are the next big leap for both data centers and local communities. This conversation also covers the new joint reference design from Eaton, Trane, and NVIDIA, a modular, factory-built approach to gigawatt-scale data center infrastructure that’s built like LEGO bricks and shipped ready to bolt together on site. We also have: HVAC Headlines: Cyber attacker targets refrigeration plant in Israel using remote access software, disguised as a Microsoft update. Plus: data centers are being damaged by AI’s volatile power demand . Stat of the Day: Just how much cooling capacity Navy submarines have on board to cool the crew, weapons systems, and onboard data systems. Products mentioned in this episode: Trane TRACE™ HVAC Design Software Series R® Helical Rotary Screw Chillers We want your hot takes and questions! Email coolair.hottakes@trane.com, drop a comment on YouTube or Spotify, or leave us a review 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 tech in HVAC, energy, and the built environment. Learn more at trane.com/coolairhottakes. Follow for new episodes every two weeks and stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
U.S. electricity demand just rose for the first time in over two decades, and the data behind that shift is reshaping how HVAC engineers, contractors, and manufacturers need to think about energy planning. Today, Charlie and Dan speak with Lisa Jacobson, a 20-year energy policy veteran who has testified before Congress and represented the U.S. in U.N. climate talks, to unpack the 2026 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. This annual data-driven snapshot of the U.S. energy landscape is produced by BCSE and BloombergNEF. Lisa shares her thoughts on what’s driving the surge in demand, why data centers are only part of the story, and why she believes energy efficiency and flexible demand may be the fastest, most underused resource the industry has. We also have: HVAC Headlines: An AC shade to block sunlight without limiting airflow . Plus: the heated debate in Europe over air conditioning . Stat of the Day: How many Americans are spending their personal budget on energy, even though electricity prices have gone up. Resources mentioned: Download the 2026 Factbook here: https://bcse.org/market-trends/ Business Council for Sustainable Energy: https://bcse.org/ Ads mentioned: Trane Building Brilliance Trane Engineer Newsletters We want your hot takes and questions! Email coolair.hottakes@trane.com, drop a comment on YouTube or Spotify, or leave us a review 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 tech in HVAC, energy, and the built environment. Learn more at trane.com/coolairhottakes. Follow for new episodes every two weeks and stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Did You Miss Us? Cool Air, Hot Takes is back for Season 5!
Sep 1, 20261 min
Your favorite Midwestern duo is back in the studio! Charlie and Dan are cranking Season 5 of Cool Air, Hot Takes into high gear, and there’s a lot to unpack. Energy, data centers, and other game-changers for the engineers and industry pros running these systems – to name a few. You’ll hear from industry insiders who’ll finally tell you where all those stats everyone loves to quote actually come from, plus engineers who traded nuclear reactors for server farms and lived to tell the tale. You’ll also get the inside scoop on a new modular system about to shake up data center infrastructure. We want your hot takes and questions! Email coolair.hottakes@trane.com, drop a comment on YouTube or Spotify, or leave us a review 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 tech in HVAC, energy, and the built environment. Learn more at trane.com/coolairhottakes. Follow for new episodes every two weeks and stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Throwback - NVIDIA’s Ali Heydari on the AI Revolution
Aug 25, 202635 min
While our team is cooking up Season 5, we're throwing it back to one of our favorite episodes from past seasons. Today, Ali Heydari, Director of Data Center Cooling and Infrastructure at NVIDIA , joins hosts Charlie Jelen and Dan Gentry to unpack how AI “factories” are reshaping data center design and why Ali thinks the AI revolution is the biggest change to the our lives since the industrial revolution. Ali explains why geometry (not thermodynamics) pushed the move from air to liquid, why NVIDIA standardized on PG25 for direct-to-chip cooling, and how digital twins in Nvidia’s Omniverse help right-size everything from chillers to dry coolers. We also dig into the tradeoffs between higher loop temps and rack density, and why cross-industry collaboration matters more than ever. We also have: HVAC Headlines: Why Legionella is a serious risk of poorly maintained HVAC equipment and how to avoid it , plus, why prices are soaring in the country’s largest grid region. Stat of the Day: Can you guess which states lost the most power in 2024 ? We want your hot takes and questions! Email coolair.hottakes@trane.com, drop a comment on YouTube or Spotify, or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Don’t forget to rate and follow too! Take our survey: We love making Cool Air, Hot Takes™, but we want to make sure you love listening to it. Head to podpolls.com/hottakes , fill out our quick listener survey, and give us your hottest takes about the show. Cool Air, Hot Takes is a Trane Commercial podcast exploring bold innovations, emerging trends, and game-changing tech in HVAC, energy, and the built environment. Follow for new episodes every two weeks and stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Throwback - Industrial Heat: We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Pump
Aug 12, 202635 min
While our team is cooking up Season 5, we're throwing it back to one of our favorite episodes from past seasons. Industrial heat accounts for approximately a quarter of global energy consumption, says Ruth Checknoff, today’s guest, and is the key to hitting climate targets. Today on Cool Air, Hot Takes , Dan and Charlie welcome Ruth Checknoff , Senior Project & Research Director at the Renewable Thermal Collaborative , to talk about the hot (literally) challenge of decarbonizing industrial thermal processes. From whiskey distilleries in Scotland to policies in Pennsylvania, New York and Colorado, Ruth walks us through the tech, the trends, and the temperature thresholds behind industrial heat pumps, thermal batteries, and more. Plus, we have: HVAC Headlines: Why Charlie loves the demand control ventilation at Disney and the wild world of copper theft and HVAC units . Listener Mailbag : Air source boilers and nuclear power’s comeback. Stat of the Day: W hich states are building America ? We want your hot takes and questions! 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! Take our survey: We love making Cool Air, Hot Takes™, but we want to make sure you love listening to it. Head to podpolls.com/hottakes , fill out our quick listener survey, and give us your hottest takes about the show. 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 every two weeks and stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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