Explore every episode of the podcast Heat Pumped

In this episode of Heat Pumped, host Shreyas Sudhakar sits down with Nate Adams, sometimes called the “Father of Electrify Everything.” Nate brings decades of experience in home performance, electrification, and HVAC design. Known for his no-BS pragmatism and fierce advocacy for building science, Nate shares his journey—from pulling his first gas meter in 2014 to becoming a national thought leader in the heat pump movement.

Together, they unpack:

• Why Nate thinks one-way air conditioners are “intellectually stupid” and why a heat pump (or “two-way AC”) should be the default option in almost every home.

• The human—not technical—barriers to full home electrification, including HVAC contractor culture, politicization of heat pumps, and market inertia.

• Why hybrids (heat pumps + furnaces) are a critical stepping stone for decarbonization in cold climates, especially in the Midwest.

• Nate’s approach to designing comfortable, quiet, energy-efficient homes, and the secrets to making heat pumps work even in leaky, 100-year-old houses.

• The importance of feedback loops, data monitoring, and right-sizing to get the best out of HVAC systems.

• The real cost of electrification, and why smarter installs—not cheaper ones—are the key to value.

• The “Cooler Act,” Nate’s proposed policy to phase out air conditioners in favor of heat pumps by incentivizing manufacturers and distributors.

If you’re a homeowner, HVAC pro, or policymaker looking for clear-eyed advice on electrification that cuts through the hype, this one’s for you. Nate is equal parts engineer, educator, and provocateur—and he’s not afraid to challenge sacred cows.

Key Quote:
"We're politicizing reverse gear. Air conditioners are dumb—you're throwing away functionality for no reason." — Nate Adams

📚 Mentioned:

• The Home Comfort Book

• Nate’s work: Energy Smart Ohio, Electrify Everything Facebook Group

• Shreyas’s newsletter: heatpumped.org

Where to find Nate:
Twitter / LinkedIn / BlueSky: @EnergySmartWV

Heat Pumps are a powerful tool to decarbonize buildings, and are a mature technology that can be deployed today. On this podcast, we explore the barriers to their adoption and brainstorm solutions with the smartest people in the industry.

For this first episode, our host Shreyas chats with Nate Adams about his own background and he got into the industry.

Shreyas is currently a contractor that installs heat pump HVAC systems across California. But before that, he was a rocket propulsion engineer, designing rocket engines at companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX. Although heat pumps and rockets might seem like two very different things, he found that there's actually a lot of similarities.