Today on Cool Air, Hot Takes, hosts Charlie Jelen and Dan Gentry sit down with Mike Fierro, Supply Chain Products Manager at SourceBlue (Turner Construction), to unpack how the biggest projects actually get done. From pre-purchasing chillers and generators, to designing around lead times, Mike explains what changed post-COVID, why data centers are rewriting the playbook, and how a hyperscale job went from PO to units on the factory floor in days. Plus his hot take: that the U.S. tried to electrify too fast… do you agree?

We’ve also got:

• HVAC Headlines: Tucson’s “Beast” plant at Davis-Monthon Air Force Base and what might come after R-454B/R-32.
• Dan Inside the Factory: A walkthrough at Trane’s La Crosse lab and a sneak peak at some of the centrifugal chillers.
• Stat of the Day: Where AIs get their information, and it’s not what you’d expect.

This is the last episode of season 2! Thanks for riding along on this journey with us. Season 3 will be dropping in a few weeks.

Until then, we still want your hot takes and questions! Emails coolair.hottakes@trane.com, drop a comment on Youtube or Spotify, or leave 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 technology in HVAC and energy management.

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

This week, Zach Zentz, Technician Productivity Manager at Trane, joins hosts Charlie Jelen and Dan Gentry for a deep dive into the world of HVAC technicians. From what a day on the job really looks like to why laptops are now just as essential as the wrenches, Zach breaks down the challenges and opportunities shaping the HVAC technician experience. He also shares stories from the field, including 20-hour casino shifts, extreme rooftop repairs, and why data centers are also changing the game for techs.

We also have:

• HVAC Headlines: The future of cold storage, how we’re making data centers more flexible, and the biggest headline of all…Dan’s birthday!
• Application Engineer Fantasy Draft: Charlie and Dan pick their dream HVAC team
• Stat of the Day: Which athletes take home the biggest paychecks in the world?

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!

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.

Data Centers: Hot Servers, Cool Solutions

Today, Sam Brown, Chief Development Officer at Serverfarm, joins hosts Charlie Jelen and Dan Gentry, for a deep dive into the world of data centers. From the art of picking the perfect site to why he’s not convinced liquid cooling will dominate the future, Sam shares insights from 15 years in the industry. Plus, Sam explains why he thinks data centers might just be the hidden monuments of our generation.

We also have:

• HVAC Headlines: Why private equity is buying up independent contractors.
• Dan Inside the Factory: Dan’s on assignment again, this time with Scott Nieman, looking at Cooling Distribution Units.
• Stat of the Day: Which US states spend the most on childcare?

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!

Cool Air, Hot Takes is a Trane Commercial HVAC 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.