Welcome to Trane’s Cool Air, Hot Takes, the fun and smart HVAC podcast with pros Charlie and Dan. Tune in biweekly for anything to everything from the world of buildings, HVAC, and energy!
Season 1
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Episode 1. How Venture Capital is Shaping the Future of HVAC
Welcome to the very first episode of Cool Air, Hot Takes, the podcast that keeps HVAC pros ahead of the curve with the latest industry insights, and trends. -
Introducing “Cool Air, Hot Takes”
Welcome to Cool Air, Hot Takes, the podcast that breaks down the biggest innovations in HVAC, energy, and building technology with bold opinions, and lots of hot takes.
Meet Your Hosts
Charles Jelen
Sales Leader – Sustainable Systems
Trane Commercial North America
Charles Jelen, better known as Charlie, is a lead subject matter expert for Trane on energy efficiency, electrification and refrigerant management. With 15 years of experience in the HVAC and power systems industries, Charlie has built a career grounded in sustainability, application engineering, and systems modeling. As a sustainable system sales leader, he is dedicated to developing and expanding building and industrial systems that meet the needs of ambitious clients.
Charlie graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in mechanical engineering and has been with Trane since 2014. When he is not working, Charlie enjoys spending time with his family in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Dan Gentry
Applications Engineer
Trane Commercial North America
Dan Gentry is an Applications Engineer at Trane. He joined the Trane team in 2018 after honing his skills for eight years at another local Wisconsin-based chiller manufacturer. But Dan's journey with Trane actually began much earlier—he first interned in the Technology Lab, working in the acoustic lab while attending school through 2008.
Dan's expertise is as cool as the systems he designs, focusing on chiller plants, heat recovery, and heat pump systems. He's all about making these systems reliable and efficient, ensuring they run smoothly and sustainably. A proud graduate of Ferris State University, Dan earned his bachelor’s degree in HVAC Engineering Technology in 2011 and is an active member of ASHRAE.
Dan is based in La Crosse, but in his free time can be found enjoying quality time with the family floating along the Mississippi River, or unwinding at their cozy cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
About the Podcast
Welcome to Trane’s “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, 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 and thermal management?
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.
Email Us
We Want to Hear from You!
Email us 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.
Email: CoolAir.HotTakes@trane.com
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