Trane Technologies - Experts & Thought Leaders

Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, now announced new circularity impact metrics focused on generating 10 percent of its revenue from circular products and services and more than doubling the use of circular materials by 2030. Trane Technologies’ circularity strategy includes multiple innovative initiatives to increase the use of recycled materials and to optimize the continued use of products through smart services, upgrades, remanufacturing and recovery programs, delivering ongoing value to customers. By redeploying high-quality parts and reducing material use, the company aims to increase efficiency, improve supply chain resiliency and open new, recurring revenue streams. conversion of circularity practices “Circularity has been a powerful driver of innovation for our company for many years,” said Mauro J. Atalla, senior vice president and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, Trane Technologies. “With these new metrics, we’re tracking the conversion of circularity practices into revenue, continuing to demonstrate that there is no tradeoff between strong financial performance and bold sustainability leadership.” New Global Circularity Protocol Trane Technologies’ circularity impact metrics were developed in alignment with the World Business Council on Sustainable Development’s new Global Circularity Protocol, the first global voluntary framework for measuring, managing and communicating circularity impacts, which was announced at the United Nations 30th Annual Conference of the Parties (COP30) in November. “The Global Circularity Protocol will help companies reduce emissions, strengthen accountability and improve business performance,” said Diane Holdorf, executive vice president, World Business Council for Sustainable Development. “Trane Technologies is leading the way in demonstrating the ROI of sustainability. We welcome their leadership as an example for other companies to follow by embracing circularity as a lever for growth and impact.” Latest in a series of enhancements The new circularity impact metrics represent a significant expansion of the company’s goal to design systems for circularity, part of its Leading by Example 2030 Sustainability Commitment. The benchmarks are the latest in a series of enhancements to the operational goal, including a commitment to reduce the embodied carbon of its products by 40% by 2030 and deliver more than one million HVAC units manufactured with low-carbon steel. Trane Technologies’ circularity strategy is anchored by strong relationships with direct material suppliers enabling procurement of recycled materials, including steel, copper and aluminum. In 2024, approximately 46 percent of the key commodities used to manufacture its products contained recycled content. Net-zero by 2050 “We’re proud to work with Trane Technologies to respond to growing demand from customers for more sustainable solutions,” said Patrick Lawlor, President, Granges Americas, a global leader in aluminum rolling and recycling. “By increasing the usage of recycled materials in our product offerings to Trane Technologies, we are creating a circular and sustainable solution benefiting both companies and their end customers.” Through bold, industry-pioneering action and partnerships, Trane Technologies is advancing its 2030 Sustainability Commitments, including the Gigaton Challenge – a pledge to reduce customer greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons (or, one gigaton) – and its pledge to be net-zero by 2050.

Trane Technologies, a climate innovator, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Stellar Energy International, Ltd. to acquire the Stellar Energy Digital business (“Stellar Energy”), a leading provider of turnkey liquid-to-chip data center cooling solutions. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Stellar Energy designs and builds modular cooling plants, central utility plants and coolant distribution units for liquid-cooled data centers and other complex corporate enterprises. Stellar Energy’s expertise in modular data center solutions is well-positioned to address the growing demand for pre-fabricated cooling systems and other critical equipment, which reduce supply chain constraints and enable rapid, scalable deployment. Trane Technologies’ leadership and capabilities The acquisition will include Stellar Energy’s existing Digital business operations, including two assembly operations in Jacksonville, Florida, and its highly skilled team of approximately 700 employees. The acquisition further bolsters Trane Technologies’ leadership and capabilities in the high-growth data center thermal management solutions market and creates opportunities to grow and scale the Stellar Energy business and leverage their expertise in modular design, engineering and assembly across numerous core commercial verticals. Stellar Energy’s Digital business “The data center ecosystem is growing rapidly and evolving toward more agile, sustainable solutions, which is where Stellar Energy excels with leading co-engineered, modular solutions and a proven business model,” said Karin De Bondt, Chief Strategy Officer, Trane Technologies. “We are delighted to welcome the talented Stellar Energy Digital team as we jointly expand our leadership and commitment to this critical sector and other commercial applications. Together we are well-positioned to expand our capabilities and offerings and create long-term customer and shareholder value.” Upon completion, Stellar Energy’s Digital business will operate within the Commercial HVAC business unit of the Trane Technologies Americas segment, retaining its brand, OEM-agnostic direct-to-customer sales model, and existing customer relationships. Thermal management solutions “We look forward to welcoming the Stellar Energy Digital team as we serve the critical and fast-growing data center market as a trusted, long-term partner for holistic and sustainable thermal management solutions,” said Holly Paeper, President, Commercial HVAC Americas, Trane Technologies. “Together we will continue to deliver innovative, industry-leading thermal management solutions and services that help our respective customers achieve their growth, efficiency, and sustainability objectives.” Transitioning to the Digital business “This marks an exciting next chapter for Stellar Energy and our talented teams,” said Peter Gibson, Executive Chairman, Stellar Energy International, Ltd. “Transitioning the Digital business to Trane Technologies positions the business for significant growth and continued excellence, while our existing customers will benefit from expanded services and resources. We’ve worked closely and successfully with Trane Technologies for many years, and I am confident Stellar Energy’s powerful combination of bespoke solutions and scalable expertise will thrive within Trane Technologies.” Trane Technologies’ proven model This bolt-on acquisition follows Trane Technologies’ proven model of adding leading technologies that augment its core business and scaling them to deliver strong returns over time. The transaction is expected to be completed in early 2026, subject to closing conditions and regulatory approval. Financial terms were not disclosed. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as the financial advisor to Trane Technologies on the transaction.

Trane Technologies, a climate innovator, and Amazon announce groundbreaking results through advanced AI to improve energy efficiency and decarbonization in key real estate assets.  The project, powered by Trane Technologies through BrainBox AI, in conjunction with AWS, showcases a successful collaboration in building decarbonization, delivering proven solutions that reduce energy use and carbon emissions. Optimizes HVAC systems Initial deployment at three pilot Amazon Grocery fulfillment facilities in North America exceeded expectations, achieving energy-use reductions of nearly 15% - more than double the original project targets. BrainBox AI, acquired by Trane Technologies, autonomously optimizes heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions, and operational costs without compromising comfort or performance. Following the success of these initiatives, deployment is planned for the remaining Amazon Grocery fulfillment and distribution centers across more than 30 sites in the U.S. Furthermore, plans to pilot in grocery stores will begin in 2026. Objectives and bold sustainability goals “At Trane Technologies, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. This strategic collaboration demonstrates how sustainable solutions can drive strong returns while benefiting the planet,” said Riaz Raihan, SVP and Chief Digital Officer of Trane Technologies. “Together, we’re not only transforming these fulfillment centers but also driving meaningful progress towards Amazon’s business objectives and bold sustainability goals.” Sustainability and performance goals in real time This initiative aligns with Amazon’s two-pronged approach to sustainability: decarbonizing existing buildings through smart technology while prioritizing energy-efficient and low-carbon materials in new construction. It also advances Amazon’s commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040 under The Climate Pledge, while enhancing operational efficiency and long-term cost savings. “At Amazon, we’re continually looking for data-driven, scalable solutions to reduce our carbon footprint while maintaining operational excellence,” said Christina Minardi, Vice President of Worldwide Grocery Stores Real Estate and Store Development at Amazon. “By working with Trane Technologies and the BrainBox AI team, we’re turning our buildings into intelligent systems that learn and adapt, helping us meet both our sustainability and performance goals in real time.” Climate-focused technology innovation In 2024, BrainBox AI was selected as one of the eleven innovative start-ups to participate in the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator Climate Tech Pilot. As part of this program, BrainBox AI was given the opportunity to trial its technology within Amazon’s operations, contributing to Amazon’s broader efforts to address major sustainability challenges. Using AWS’ AI technology which contains over 10 key AWS solutions such as Amazon S3, and Amazon Bedrock, BrainBox AI cleared the pathway for the Amazon Grocery fulfillment sites’ contribution as a driver of progress toward this goal. Its inclusion in the accelerator cemented the company as a recognized pioneer in climate-focused technology innovation, working alongside other start-ups to drive impactful change within large-scale operations. Advanced building management and digital capabilities “Amazon’s global scale and leadership in sustainability make this collaboration a transformative milestone,” said Jean-Simon Venne, Founder and President of BrainBox AI. “Together, we’re showing how cutting-edge AI can drive both economic and environmental impact, creating a world where every building is a proactive participant in the fight against climate change.” Trane Technologies acquired BrainBox AI in January 2025. The companies previously teamed up for more than two years, combining BrainBox AI’s pioneering artificial intelligence technology with Trane Technologies’ advanced building management and digital capabilities.

Recently, nine states pledged to accelerate the transition to clean buildings in their states, including a goal of deploying heat pumps to make up 65% of residential heating, cooling, and water heating by 2030. California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island signed a memorandum of understanding in February outlining their collective efforts to accelerate the deployment of clean technologies such as heat pumps in new and existing homes.  Benefits of heat pumps Fifteen percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the heating and cooling of buildings and homes, and accelerating the use of heat pumps advances the goal of a cleaner, healthier environment.   “The door is closing on reasons to shy away from heat pumps because the technology is here, and the incentives and support from government programs are on the rise,” says Katie Davis, VP of Engineering and Technology at Trane Residential. “There is no better time than now to make the change for a more sustainable future.”  portfolio of residential heat pumps The new portfolio yields an emissions reduction of over 35% (compared to 2019), and the new 15 SEER heat pump Beginning this month, Trane Residential launches its new portfolio of residential heat pumps that achieve new levels of emissions reduction. The new portfolio yields an emissions reduction of over 35% (compared to 2019), and the new 15 SEER heat pump will meet Energy Star requirements.   “We saw the change in refrigerant regulation as an opportunity to propel us forward in technology toward a better environment,” says Davis.   Heat pump technology Heat pump technology has been around since the mid-1800s, and it has evolved significantly since that time. Within the last 10 years, improvements have been made in efficiency, in both the heating and cooling cycles. The use of vapor injection technology in the heating cycle has greatly improved the capacity and efficiency of heating with heat pumps.   Comfort mode Comfort mode provides a level of comfort similar to that of fossil fuel-burning furnaces Trane heat pumps also can deliver very warm air at the register through Comfort mode, which provides a level of comfort similar to that of fossil fuel-burning furnaces, says Davis. Homeowners who prefer furnaces due to the temperature of the discharge air have similar capabilities with Trane heat pumps.  Sustainability and efficiency Trane Technologies seeks to challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world, says Davis. “Sustainability is the foundation of how we design our products for the future of HVAC,” she says. Improvements in the efficiency of Trane Heat Pumps have a direct correlation to reduced emissions, which translates to energy savings on a homeowner’s utility bill.   Trane Link systems Other factors that assist in driving the transition to the electrification of heating are utility rebates The Trane Link systems provide up to an additional 5% energy savings to the homeowner using smart technology that efficiently manages the home load environment. Other factors that assist in driving the transition to the electrification of heating are utility rebates and a program that assists homeowners in making the shift.  Of course, "indirect emissions" and the greening of the grid have an impact on emissions as the industry moves toward the use of heat pumps and away from fossil fuel-burning systems. emissions reduction by design Trane is achieving industry-pioneering emissions reduction by design, and as the grid becomes greener, it will accelerate the impact the Trane portfolio will have on the industry and the environment, says Davis.  “At Trane, we utilize a multi-variable approach to reducing emissions in our product portfolio,” says Davis. “While a greener grid can help to accelerate the reduction in emissions, our systems utilize smart technology, lower global warming potential refrigerants, and improved efficiency in heating design to achieve industry-pioneering emissions reduction for our systems.”  alternative energy sources When designing for sustainability, several levers can be pulled to yield the best results Heat pumps play a role in encouraging more efficient energy sources. HVAC accounts for over 40% of the energy usage in a home. There is an opportunity for the development of capabilities in alternative energy sources for heating and cooling as well as improved energy management for the home. When designing for sustainability, several levers can be pulled to yield the best results. One of those levers is related to digital controls and smart systems.  Trane Link Variable Speed Trane Link Variable Speed Systems provide over 700 speeds to provide a pinpoint match to a homeowner’s load demand in a home. The system provides temperature control within 0.5 degrees F, humidity control to the exact setpoint defined by the homeowner, and provides up to 5% energy savings on utility bills.   By utilizing the digital technology within the control system, the heat pump manages comfort as well as efficiency to provide the best for the homeowner and the environment. For dealers, Trane provides Dealer Diagnostics that give precise information on runtime and system performance, in real time, to ensure the most optimal operating parameters for the best system performance and efficiency.  heat pump heating capability Two obstacles are cost and the customer perception of heat pump heating capability Two obstacles remain in the transition journey. They are cost and the customer perception of heat pump heating capability. “As we accelerate this transition, the time is now for utilities and government programs to step up and assist homeowners in electrification of heating,” says Davis. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding is a step toward this assistance, but more is needed across the industry to ensure a rapid transition to cleaner equipment.   Consumer concerns In addition to cost, homeowners have not been properly educated on the advancement of heat pump technology over the last decade, and heating with heat pumps has improved significantly.  “The cost to convert from furnaces to heat pumps can be prohibitive, but with government incentives, like the IRA rebates, this becomes less of an issue,” says Davis. “Other concerns from consumers are energy bills and the concern that energy costs will rise with the use of heat pumps. While it is true that electric energy bills may rise, homeowners should see a reduced cost of use of other energy sources,” says Davis. “In the end, we move closer to parity.” 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has challenged manufacturers to accelerate the development of heat pumps that can perform well in colder climates. As part of its Initiative for Better Energy, Emissions, and Equity (E3 Initiative), the DoE’s Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump (CCHP) Technology Challenge seeks to demonstrate performance in the lab and at pilot sites before implementing new technologies in the market. Nominal capacity requirement To meet the DoE CCHP Challenge, a heat pump 4 tons and lower must have a coefficient of performance (COP) of 2.4 while providing 100% of nominal rated capacity at an ambient temperature of 5 degrees F. A heat pump larger than 4 tons must have a COP of 2.1 with the same nominal capacity requirement at 5 degrees F. There are no products on the market that currently meet these performance specifications In addition, the heat pump must have an HSPF2 = 8.5 in Climate Zone 5 (a cold northern climate where annual minimum temperatures range between negative 20 and negative 10 degrees Fahrenheit). There are no products on the market that currently meet these performance specifications. COP is the relationship between the power (kW) that is drawn out of the heat pump as cooling or heat, and the power (kW) that is supplied to the compressor. HSPF2 is a factor evaluating the efficiency of a heat pump during cold weather, measured according to the DoE’s new, more accurate scale. Cascade refrigeration systems There are several approaches to improving a heat pump’s performance in cold climates, including cascade refrigeration systems, various forms of multi-stage compression, vapor-injection, and liquid injection. The optimal solution will consider the trade-offs among customer needs, product cost, operational efficiency, reliability, and technology readiness. “It’s all about maximizing value for our customers while meeting their comfort needs,” says Katie Davis, Vice President of Engineering and Technology, Residential HVAC, Trane Technologies. Trane tested its CCHP prototype at the DOE’s lab, the Oak Ridge National Lab Facility. The prototype performed in temperatures as low as negative 23 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing the mandatory negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit DoE requirement. “Our prototype pushed the limits of the testing with high performance even as temperatures moved beyond the trial scope,” says Davis. Trane tested its CCHP prototype at the DOE’s lab, the Oak Ridge National Lab Facility Ambient operating conditions “Passing the lab testing phase means we’re now able to conduct field testing with this heat pump, which will provide us with the opportunity to keep a family warm this winter,” says Davis. Trane’s unit will begin field testing in Boise, Idaho. The prototype will be placed in cold climate ambient operating conditions in a residential building. For Trane’s current CCHP prototype, the DoE may decide to extend the field trial testing into a second heating season. If this is the case, Trane will participate in the second field trial in 2023. If field trial testing concludes in 2022, Trane will continue toward the commercialization of the product Vapor compression cycle Colder ambient temperatures require changes to the vapor compression cycle Colder ambient temperatures require changes to the vapor compression cycle utilized in a heat pump to provide the heating capacity required at 5 degrees F and below. Compression technology has now advanced to the point where this capability can be incorporated into the system to provide the additional capacity required. Currently for residents in colder areas of the country, and until newer technology comes to market, a heat pump might be the right choice when matched with a furnace or other electric heating device. This way, a home will continue to stay warm on the coldest days or run more efficiently for most of the season. Environmentally minded furnaces Compared to a traditional furnace and air conditioner heating and cooling setup, heat pumps can save as much as $526* a year in energy costs. They also emit zero of the harmful emissions that have been proven to contribute to climate change. (*Estimated cost savings are based on ENERGY STAR's Savings Calculator for a 3-ton 21 SEER/10 HSPF heat pump and programmable thermostat versus the industry standard 14 SEER/8.2 HSPF 3-ton heat pump and standard thermostat in St. Louis, Mo.) Trane continues to provide the most efficient options available including heat pumps Trane continues to provide the most efficient options available including heat pumps, more environmentally minded furnaces, and the pairing of the two in dual-fuel systems. Like a hybrid car that runs on electricity when possible and switches to gas as needed, a dual-fuel system runs the electric heat pump as often as possible and switches to the gas furnace when needed. Other electrification incentives Hybrid systems offer those homeowners a way to adopt a heat pump and reduce their carbon footprint at a much lower total cost while keeping the safety net of a gas furnace, especially for those in colder regions of the country. The most efficient heat pumps, like the Trane Platinum XV20i Heat Pump, can operate in temperatures as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The recently passed U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other electrification incentives that exist in some markets will make heat pumps very attractive, even for homes that currently have a gas furnace. Hybrid systems offer those homeowners a way to adopt a heat pump Variable speed HVAC systems Homeowners seeking out sustainable solutions like heat pumps are becoming increasingly aware of governmental perks and tax rebates to reduce fossil fuels. They can take advantage of new clean energy tax credits and rebates available through the IRA, which includes an expansion of the Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Tax Credit (25C) and an extension and expansion to the New Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit (45L). The Trane Platinum XV20i Heat Pump is part of a new line of equipment featuring Trane Link, a communication technology designed to simplify installation, commissioning, and remote monitoring of Trane’s variable speed HVAC systems. Following a successful regional launch in spring 2022, the full line of Trane Link equipment will be available for Trane’s independent dealers to order nationwide beginning this month.