Ania sits down with Umair Surani, a bridge-builder, systems thinker, and Senior Account Executive at McKinstry, whose path into the climate world began in the most unexpected way—through a job he almost didn’t take. With a background in aerospace engineering and a childhood in Pakistan, Umair brings a uniquely global and interdisciplinary lens to decarbonizing buildings.

We explore why HVAC contractors may be the most powerful (and overlooked) agents of change in the clean energy transition, what prevents more homeowners from installing heat pumps, and how decision-making around climate technologies often comes down to risk, timing, and trust.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why HVAC contractors have more influence over climate adoption than most people realize
• How Umair's identity as a "bridge node" shapes his work and relationships
• What a heat pump actually is, and why it matters
• Why policy and incentive programs often fail to engage the people who need them most
• How cultural background and generational empathy can be secret weapons for change
• What happened when Umair tried (and failed) to install a heat pump in a new home build

Resources Mentioned:

• McKinstry – Umair's employer, helping decarbonize buildings across sectors
• AHR Expo – The largest HVAC industry conference
• Climate Vine – Climate professional community where Umair and Ania met

Note:

• In the podcast, Umair mentions that vehicles have heat pumps - for context this was about EVs, since we are both EV owners and was not meant to imply that traditional gas powered cars also have heat pumps.
• This was recorded on Nov 5, 2024 so some information mentioned may be outdated by release date.

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Music Credit:

Music in this episode is by Broke for Free, available via the Free Music Archive.

Final Thought:

“Sometimes climate change starts at the kitchen table—with a contractor, a question, and the willingness to try something different.”