March 31, 2026
Decarb Debrief Ep. 3: Master Planning Approaches to Decarb
In Episode 3 of Decarb Debrief, RMF’s Kristin McMurry, PE explores how transitioning from steam to hot water systems can boost efficiency and support decarbonization. She also introduces key heating technologies and how they work together to enable a flexible, low-carbon energy strategy.
In Part Two of "Approaches to Decarbonization," Kristin McMurry explores the benefits of transitioning from a traditional steam distribution system to a hot water system. This session highlights how such a shift can improve system efficiency while creating opportunities to integrate a broader range of high-efficiency, low-carbon heating technologies into a district energy system. These improvements are made possible by making use of thermal transfer.
Kristin provides an overview of key decarbonization technologies that pair with hot water distribution systems, including air source and water source heat pumps, and heat recovery chillers. She also covers complementary thermal storage strategies such as geo-exchange. She concludes by discussing how these technologies can be combined into a cohesive decarbonization portfolio tailored to campus needs.
This episode teaches viewers about efficiency advantages of hot water systems and how they enable the adoption of advanced heating technologies. The session introduces a range of electrification and heat recovery solutions and demonstrates how integrating these approaches can support a comprehensive and flexible path toward decarbonization.