Thomas Durkin, P.E., FASHRAE, ASHRAE Life Member
(Accepting In-Person Requests Only)
6740 Spirit Lake Dr., Unit 101
Indianapolis, IN 46220
United States
(317) 402-2292
Region: V
Honorarium: None
THDURKIN46@GMAIL.COM

Tom’s design work has won twelve (12) state, national and international awards, including two ASHRAE Technology Awards. He has written many articles for the ASHRAE Journal and other industry magazines, and his work has been featured in several others. Tom is a co- author of the HVAC Pump Handbook, the definitive text on all things hydronic. .

    EDUCATION
  • Marquette University
    • Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, 1968
    PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS (some may be inactive)
  • Indiana, PE
  • Illinois, PE
  • Ohio, PE
  • Kentucky, PE
  • Tennessee, PE
  • Missouri, PE
  • Wisconsin, PE
  • Certified Energy Auditor, Indiana, 1985
  • Licensed Boiler Inspector, Wisconsin, 1979 LEED AP
Topics
Energy Efficiency Relative to HVAC Design and Operations Classification: Basic
Tom Durkin has spent a career in designing energy efficient HVAC systems, and along the way, his designs have won twelve state, national and international awards, all for innovative approaches that save energy. This talk will visit the lessons learned and some mistakes made that continue to shape his design philosophies.
Deep Energy Efficiency and Holistic Energy Efficiency Applications
Tom Durkin was a panelist on the April 2018 ASHRAE Webcast “Making Energy Efficiency a Reality.” This talk will revisit the project case studies featured in the webcast in much greater detail.
Heat Recovery Applications and Economics
Beginning in 2000 at Chesterton High School, Durkin pioneered the application of dedicated heat recovery chillers. He has designed about 60 heat recovery chillers integrated into hydronic systems.
Low Temperature Heating Applications and Economics
Durkin’s first low temperature (130F max) boiler design was in 1990, and it wasn’t because he was trying to save energy. Nor was the second, but after checking back with the owners on operating cost, it was apparent that efficiency gains were many times greater than could possibly be predicted by looking at boiler ratings. His findings were published in the July 2006 ASHRAE Journal Boiler System Efficiency.
Humidity Control
Summer high humidity is a significant potential Indoor Air Quality liability. Durkin’s approach is that most applications do not need to control humidity, rather just make sure it doesn’t get out of control. Humidity can be addressed with active or passive measures, but it should never be ignored. This talk will explain low cost but highly effective solutions that work in all climate zones.
Benefits of Technology Transfer – Six Steps to Winning a Technology Award
Tom Durkin has won two ASHRAE Technology Awards. This talk will trace the steps and the years from the first small innovation to the design that turned a hazard and a liability into an asset, saved the owner a lot of money, and won our industry’s top award
2-Pipe HVAC – Myths Debunked
Tom Durkin is generally recognized as the inventor of the “modern 2-pipe system.” Beginning with the first modern 2-pipe at Green Valley Elementary School in 1993, Durkin approached the age-old 2-pipe problems with a combination of innovation and common sense. The results have been nothing short of spectacular, as 2-pipe systems have been resurrected from the scrap heap of history and restored as a legitimate option for the modern built environment.
Geothermal Central Systems
Geothermal systems are recognized for their efficiency and positive environmental impact. But the way they are usually implemented, with distributed heat pumps, could be improved in the opinion of this author.