Rethinking Hydronic Systems to Enable Building Electrification

The ASHRAE Position Document on Building Decarbonization was recently approved and announced. Building decarbonization addresses a building’s entire life cycle: its construction and energy use as well as methane and refrigerant leaks, which are the primary sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A primary means for reducing building GHG emissions includes reducing building energy use through energy-efficient electrification while also removing emissions from the electrical grid.

This session will explore solutions for electrification of thermal systems using site sourced, site recovered and compressor-based heating. Air-to-water and water-to-water heat pump system benefits, limitations, and best practices will be discussed as well as cold climate strategies.

Learning Objectives

1. Explain the electrification landscape
2. Understand heat pump capabilities and limitations
3. Identify key considerations for selection and sizing 
4. Compare electrified system types
5. Discover cold climate variations
6. Unlock energy storage for both heating and cooling

Speaker

Lukas is an account executive with the Trane Toronto team, holds a Bachelor of Applied Science with specialization in Environmental Engineering from Queen’s University, and is an active member of ASHRAE. Lukas works closely with clients to achieve their sustainability and energy goals by leveraging their BAS and upgrading equipment or optimizing HVAC performance. Specializing in electrification of heating and building environment optimization with smart building automation solutions, Lukas supports clients to create and design HVAC solutions and follows them through manufacturing, installation, and optimal operation. Lukas actively empowers others to take a step back and consider the holistic picture in every project. Lukas supports clients in Canada to achieve their sustainability goals with lasting results.

In his free time, Lukas hits the backcountry; canoeing and hiking in the summer, and cross country skiing in the winter.