Trane Technologies: Tech & AI for Sustainable Supply Chains

Trane Technologies is a company focused on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration systems.

According to the World Health Organisation, the frequency and intensity of extreme heat and heatwaves is rising, leading people and businesses to rely on these solutions more.

Its 2024 sustainability report showcases the company’s sustainability efforts have resulted in customer, shareholder and community value.

Trane is utilising supply chains, technologies and AI to enhance its sustainability initiatives.

Environmental impact

Trane’s sustainability report states that the company has reduced 237 million tonnes of CO₂e from its customers’ carbon footprints since 2019 as part of the its Gigaton Challenge.

The report also says that 68% of its total electricity consumption was sourced from renewable energy.

“Propelled by our target to reduce our customers’ carbon footprint by a gigaton of emissions, we are proving that it is possible to be a growth company, meet ambitious sustainability commitments and add value to customers by helping them meet theirs,” writes Mauro J. Atalla Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer at Trane Technologies, in the report.

In terms of energy efficiency, absolute energy use from operations came to approximately 848,000 MWh in 2024, a 3.2% reduction from its 2019 baseline, even as manufacturing and production demands increased. 

The company also reports reduced total water use at facilities in water-stressed locations by 27% since 2019.

“Our advanced technologies, including thermal management systems and thermal storage, waste heat recovery, all-electric heat pumps and refrigerated transport solutions, as well as purpose-built digital solutions and AI, enable our customers to optimise system performance while reducing energy use, carbon emissions and operational costs,” writes Dave Regnery, Chair and CEO of Trane Technologies, in the report. 

“We also continue to lead by example as we reduce carbon emissions, water, waste and energy use within our own operations. 

“In 2024, Trane Technologies announced an industry-first, precedent-setting commitment to reduce embodied carbon in our products by 40% by 2030.”

To try and reach its goal of zero waste disposed of in landfills, 36 of Trane’s global sites operated as zero waste to landfill in 2024, representing 80% of its facilities. 

Trane is also focusing on improving circularity practices for steel, copper and aluminium.

Supply chain sustainability

When it comes to supply chains, Trane says that its “striving to extend product life cycles and build long-term strategic relationships with customers to create a more circular supply chain".

Trane's six key pillars include:

• Sustainable and circular design
• Recycling
• Remanufacturing and repairing
• Material selection
• Maintaining, prolonging and sharing
• Reuse and redistribution.

Through engagement with multiple partners, Trane says that teams have identified significant savings. 

“We are known for credible action on climate and the very real way that our employees are committed to our purpose,” says Chris Kuehn, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Trane Technologies in the report.

“We are seeing this consistency translate into growth.”

The report states that by converting from 100% virgin resins to post-industrial and post-consumer recycled material, it will decrease total carbon by 30% and will reuse more than 350,000 pounds of scrap and recycled material within its supply chain annually.

“We encourage suppliers to use reusable or returnable packaging to reduce the need for wood-based and single-use plastic packaging in our supply chain,” Trane’s sustainability report says.

In the report Trane says that that 100% of significant suppliers are enrolled in sustainability reporting platforms.

In 2024, the company announced a new commitment to reduce embodied carbon in its products by 40% by 2030, leading its procurement team to begin considering embodied carbon when sourcing materials.

Sustainable technology and AI initiatives

The report states that more than US$309m research and development expenses will be incurred in 2024 in accordance with US GAAP.

These expenses are sustainability driven, providing research and development on:

• Product and system-level improvements, such as increasing energy efficiency
• Advancing the electrification of heating and transport
• Developing and implementing low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants
• Reducing material content in products
• Designing products for circularity
• Leveraging AI solutions to increase energy efficiency.

“In a continually warming world, demand for cooling is only increasing,” writes Riaz Raihan, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Trane Technologies, in the report.

“HVAC systems play a crucial role in our shared vision for a net zero future and their integration of advanced AI technology is supercharging what’s possible for reducing built environment emissions.”

In 2023, the company acquired Nuvolo, a leading cloud-based software and solutions provider for intelligent workplace solutions and enterprise asset management. 

In January 2025, Trane also completed its acquisition of BrainBox AI, a pioneer in autonomous HVAC controls and generative AI building technology. 

BrainBox AI uses advanced deep learning algorithms to predict building energy needs and automate HVAC systems, reducing energy consumption by up to 25% and reducing GHG emissions by up to 40%.

“With AI and digital services, building management and HVAC systems can do more than ever,” the report states.