58 | Energy Intel 2nd Quarter 2026
WHAT THE FIELD TEACHES US ABOUT
AND HOW TO GET IT RIGHT
Steve Brennan, PE
COMMERCIAL ELECTRIFICATION –
Commercial building electrification is gaining momentum. Utilities are rolling out incentives,
policymakers have set out bold decarbonization targets, and heat pump technologies continue to
improve. But problems can occur when we underestimate the task at hand. Thirty years working
on commercial HVAC systems has taught me that electrification is seldom as straightforward as
replacing gas equipment with electric alternatives. Here's what we’re seeing in the field, and what
programs need to do differently to deliver real results.