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CONTACT A TRANE EXPERT
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Blog
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE ENGINEERS NEWSLETTER
Since its inception, Trane® has strived to provide objective and useful
information to engineers and contractors. Early examples include numerous
bulletins covering new systems and equipment. In addition, the company began
publishing the Trane Air Conditioning Manual in 1938.
Eric Sturm January 11, 2022
Engineer & Architect
Blog
GETTING TO LOW CARBON BUILDINGS WITH THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE
December 20, 2021
Energy Storage Solutions, Engineer & Architect
Blog
HOW TRANE CAN HELP INDOOR GROWERS OPTIMIZE OPERATIONS AND REDUCE ENERGY COSTS
November 23, 2021
Indoor Agriculture
Blog
6 WAYS FOR INDOOR AGRICULTURE TO GROW SUSTAINABILITY
November 17, 2021
Indoor Agriculture, Engineer & Architect
Blog
GET SMART ON CREATING PRODUCTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
November 11, 2021
Blog
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE ENGINEERS NEWSLETTER
Since its inception, Trane® has strived to provide objective and useful
information to engineers and contractors. Early examples include numerous
bulletins covering new systems and equipment. In addition, the company began
publishing the Trane Air Conditioning Manual in 1938.
Eric Sturm January 11, 2022
Blog
GETTING TO LOW CARBON BUILDINGS WITH THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE
This year, there has been a lot of news around thermal energy storage as a way
to reduce carbon emissions, and for good reason. Read more for two of the latest
trends.
December 20, 2021
Blog
HOW TRANE CAN HELP INDOOR GROWERS OPTIMIZE OPERATIONS AND REDUCE ENERGY COSTS
Fundamentally, it’s an HVAC challenge. Like data centers and hospital operating
rooms, commercial grow rooms are critical environments that require precise
indoor climate conditions to successfully perform their mission. It’s important
for growers to partner with a provider that is familiar with the challenges
high-stakes environments face and has the energy-efficiency expertise to support
them.
November 23, 2021
Blog
6 WAYS FOR INDOOR AGRICULTURE TO GROW SUSTAINABILITY
Precisely maintained indoor environments make indoor growing operations highly
efficient. They consume up to 95% less water, use less fertilizer and pesticide
and are hundreds of times more productive per square foot compared to
traditional farming methods. And growers don’t need to worry about Mother Nature
spoiling the harvest.
November 17, 2021
Blog
GET SMART ON CREATING PRODUCTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Join podcast host, Portia Mount, vice president of marketing at Trane, and three
guests from leading global design and architecture firm, Corgan — David Euscher,
vice president; Sangeetha Karthik, associate principal; and AJ Sustaita, vice
president — who wake up every morning thinking about how to create the best K-12
learning environments. These education design experts share an industry
insider’s view as they lay out how to create effective and inclusive educational
spaces for today’s highly engaged students.
November 11, 2021
Blog
A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FINDS A NEW COMMUNITY AND A SECOND CAREER IN THE TRADES
Haley Whiting is an apprentice pipefitter in Chicago – Union Local 597. She’s
been working in the trades for nearly five years and, in her early 30s, is one
of the older apprentices. Her career started off in one direction before the
construction industry finally found her.
November 08, 2021
Blog
OPEN SYSTEMS IN BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
A communication protocol is a set of rules used to share data. An open protocol
means the communication rules are publicly available. Using an open protocol is
a good first step but can become complicated if a single vendor owns the
protocol. That vendor could keep some of the features for only their products,
making it less open than would first appear. Or worse, the vendor may change the
protocol leaving existing systems in a state where an upgrade may break existing
interoperability.
Chuck Lehn November 03, 2021
Blog
3 WAYS COLLEGES ARE USING STIMULUS AND SAVINGS TO CREATE HEALTHIER, MORE
PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES
In response to COVID’s impact on our schools nationwide, the U.S. Department of
Education has stepped in to provide an unprecedented amount of funding as part
of its American Rescue Plan (ARP). Through this funding, community colleges
around the nation received over $40 billion in Higher Education Emergency Relief
Funding (HEERF III) to address the financial burden faced by institutions of
higher learning and students alike.
October 29, 2021
Blog
GET SMART ON EFFICIENT AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS FROM RESEARCH TO PRACTICE
Join Anisa Heming, Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green
Building Council, and Wanyu Rengie Chan, Ph.D, Healthy Schools Research
Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, as they unpack the
latest studies and best practices in IEQ for K-12 school buildings.
October 28, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN EXPERT: IEQ AND BACK TO SCHOOL
As part of a holistic approach to building wellness, an energy service company
such as Trane can help school leaders access unprecedented funding currently
available to optimize indoor spaces in schools. Additionally, Trane can help
leaders prepare a long-term replacement strategy should they be hit with a
natural disaster or other surprises.
Jason Turner October 15, 2021
Blog
GET SMART ON TECHNICAL CAREER PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS: INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION
PARTNERSHIPS
How has technical education changed and why should parents, students, businesses
and communities consider a technical career pathway an important opportunity?
October 14, 2021
Blog
RIVER TRAILS SCHOOL DISTRICT 26 AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY
COMMITMENTS
Prairie Trails School is on track to save more than $32,000 a year in annual gas
and electricity costs while offering optimized indoor air quality and reliable,
energy efficient performance.
October 14, 2021
Blog
OPEN DISTRIBUTION IN BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS
When it comes to building automation systems, not all uses of the term “open
system” are equal. When talking about open systems, definitions typically fall
into three categories: open distribution, open protocols, and open service. This
blog explores open distribution.
Andrew Disher October 04, 2021
Blog
6 WAYS TO MAKE HVAC SYSTEMS AS GREEN AS CAN BE
Technology and material advancements have been making buildings consistently
more sustainable for decades. Some of what’s possible is truly remarkable. There
are solutions readily available today that can reduce emissions while paying
back building owners with financial benefits.
October 01, 2021
Blog
GET SMART ON THE STATE OF THE SCHOOLS: AMERICA'S K–12 FACILITIES
Why has the U.S. PK-12 school facilities’ funding gap increased to a staggering
$85 billion a year — when the learning environment is more critical than ever —
and what can be done about it? Join Mary Filardo, Executive Director of the 21st
Century School Fund and Rachel Hodgdon, CEO of the International Well Building
Institute®, as they delve into their organizations’ 2021 State of Our Schools
Report.
September 30, 2021
Blog
IT’S ELEMENTARY: IAQ MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING MATTER IN SCHOOLS
Even well before the global pandemic, researchers reported that maintaining
proper indoor air quality (IAQ) can help reduce absenteeism, affect test scores,
and enhance student and staff perceptions of productivity. According to a
literature review published in 2005 in Indoor Air Journal , evidence suggests
that poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in schools is common and adversely
influences the performance and attendance of students, primarily through health
effects from indoor pollutants.
September 28, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN EXPERT: IEQ AND BACK TO SCHOOL
Cameron Griffith offers 15 years of energy services consulting experience
helping customers leverage their buildings to meet improve their business
performance. Cameron helps building owners meet or exceed business outcomes,
using buildings as a resource to maximize asset potential.
Cameron Griffith September 23, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN EXPERT: DESIGNING FOR HEALTHIER SPACES
Typically when people think of “healthier indoor spaces” they are referring to
the filtration or other air cleaning technologies. What many people don’t
realize is that the health of their spaces is so much more that that. It starts
with thermal comfort, ie the temperature and humidity in the space. ASHRAE has
tons of research that shows that there are optimal ranges for temperature and
humidity to keep occupants comfortable and prevent the spread of viruses,
bacteria and other microbials.
Tyler Malm September 21, 2021
Blog
GET SMART: HOW TO USE ENERGY CONTRACTING TO YOUR SCHOOL'S ADVANTAGE
How can schools leverage tomorrow’s energy savings to fund today’s K-12 school
building improvements — and what risks are associated with these types of
projects? Join Dr. Timothy Unruh, Executive Director for the National
Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO®), as he dives into the ins and
outs of this funding vehicle known as an energy savings performance contract.
September 16, 2021
Blog
THERE’S MORE TO INDOOR COMFORT THAN TEMPERATURE
Multiple studies have shown that the more comfortable people are, the more
productive they become. Some applications, like healthcare, retail stores,
grocery stores, and schools may have unique requirements related to one or more
of the thermal comfort parameters for the comfort of the people – or food –
inside their buildings.
Eric Sturm September 14, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN ENGINEER: DESIGNING FOR HEALTHIER SPACES
There is not a silver bullet when addressing IEQ or IAQ issues. Every building
is different, and every customer is different. It is important to assess each
building to determine existing conditions of the space. It is also important to
understand key factors from the customer (efficacy against pathogens, energy
efficiency, mold/mildew mitigation, improved productivity, comfort issues,
etc.). Most projects require a layered approach to meet the unique needs of the
customer and their building’s current state.
Jeff Wiseman September 09, 2021
Blog
ANNUAL SCHOOL FACILITY FUNDING GAP GROWS TO $85 BILLION
A new report from the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), State of Our
Schools 2021, shows a projected annual shortfall of $85 billion in annual U.S.
K-12 public school facility funding, despite significant local and state efforts
to deliver healthy and safe public-school buildings. This shortfall represents a
nearly 80 percent increase since 2016 according to the report by the 21st
Century School Fund, IWBI and the National Council on School Facilities.
September 08, 2021
Blog
3 WAYS FACILITIES MANAGERS CAN PARTNER WITH SUPERINTENDENTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS
The current education stimulus funding represents the United States’
largest-ever investment in infrastructure upgrade opportunities for K-12
schools. (Source) These unprecedented stimulus funds can be leveraged for
facility upgrades including indoor air quality improvements. As the district’s
trusted facility advisor, one of the most important things you can do is help
your school make the right decisions when it comes to funding district needs.
August 25, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN ENGINEER: DESIGNING FOR HEALTHIER SPACES
It’s important for building designers to understand what owners desire when they
ask for healthier spaces. In addition to this, owners may have specific
acoustical and lighting requests. Designing for healthier spaces is more
holistic, meaning everything from temperature, humidity, air cleanliness,
acoustics, and lighting, are considered.
Eric Sturm August 18, 2021
Blog
IEQ: WHAT'S NOW, WHAT'S NEW AND WHAT'S NEXT
Hear from Scott Huffmaster, North America Sales Leader for Healthy Spaces with
Trane, as he talks about what’s now, what’s new and what’s next for IEQ.
Scott Huffmaster August 17, 2021
Customer Story
VRF: THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR CORE FITNESS
When CORE Fitness in Providence, Rhode Island, began transforming an old
brownstone into an upscale fitness center they turned to Coldmasters and Trane.
Specializing in cycling, weight training and boxing classes, CORE knows the
importance of bringing individualized comfort to its clients.
August 16, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN EXPERT: IEQ AND BACK TO SCHOOL
Insight from an expert: IEQ and back to school
Denise Chavez August 11, 2021
Video
HOW ARE SCHOOLS USING FEDERAL FUNDING? HEAR FROM 3 SUPERINTENDENTS.
We talked with 3 superintendents from around the country to learn how their
school districts are leveraging federal funding to improve building
infrastructure for the upcoming school year and beyond.
August 04, 2021
Video
ARE STIMULUS FUNDS A GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY? HEAR FROM 3 SUPERINTENDENTS.
We talked with 3 superintendents from around the country about how federal
stimulus funds offer an opportunity to upgrade facilities in ways that will
leave a lasting positive impact for generations to come.
August 04, 2021
Video
WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES? HEAR FROM 3 SUPERINTENDENTS.
We talked with 3 superintendents from around the country about the many
long-term benefits of thoughtful infrastructure improvements, specifically for
students today and of future generations.
August 04, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN EXPERT: IEQ AND BACK TO SCHOOL
Many schools realized that their systems, particularly mechanical and HVAC
systems, were not capable of handling the CDC- and ASHRAE-recommended
modifications during the pandemic, such as increasing outdoor air. Especially in
the Northeast, systems are not built to handle 100 percent outdoor air in the
dead of winter. Therefore, it made schools consider more holistic and creative
ways of preparing their classrooms for teachers and students, such as air
cleaners or better controls strategies.
Morgan Perras July 28, 2021
Blog
DRIVE CUSTOMERS IN AND ODORS OUT – IS YOUR RESTAURANT PROPERLY PRESSURIZED?
Our sense of smell has been a powerful motivator throughout human history. This
natural olfactory instinct can drive the decisions we make - whether they’re
good, bad or indifferent. So, when it comes to restaurants and kitchens, help
ensure customers only get the very best of the smells in your building.
July 22, 2021
Blog
5 GREAT REASONS TO ASSESS INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY – AND 1 BAD REASON.
If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s the importance indoor environmental
quality (IEQ) has on the comfort and well-being of people inside. It’s been an
issue for a lot longer, though. So long, it even has a name: Sick Building
Syndrome. Sick Building Syndrome is a condition affecting office workers
attributed to poorly managed facilities or stressful factors in the working
environment such as poor ventilation.
July 22, 2021
Blog
5 WAYS TO BOOST PEACE OF MIND ABOUT IN-PERSON LEARNING
School systems across the country displayed superhuman creativity and resolve to
make distance learning possible during the pandemic. Despite the herculean
effort, 97% of educators believe students have suffered at least some learning
disruption, with more than half believing that loss was significant1. In-person
learning remains the most productive K12 educational environment.
July 19, 2021
Blog
NAVIGATING FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THE ENERGY LANDSCAPE
Chances are you’ve heard about decarbonization and electrification: two
six-syllable words that may sound like a weird new diet. They are in a way – but
for fossil fuel consumption, not calories. And engineers and building owners
should be paying attention.
July 14, 2021
Blog
KEEP THE BALANCE: MONITORING YOUR BUILDING’S IEQ
The 2020 pandemic magnified that buildings — along with the operations they
house — are vulnerable to unseen health threats. Now more than ever, addressing
people’s confidence and comfort inside a building can be core to business
success and a vital part of a building’s value proposition, and its
marketability. Taking the right long-term approach to your building’s indoor
environmental quality (IEQ) can help you ensure your building’s wellness, and
more importantly, the well-being of its occupants.
July 09, 2021
Blog
FIVE TIPS TO NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITY OF OPEN SYSTEM BUILDING CONTROLS
When it comes to building automation systems, not all uses of the term “open
system” are equal. The following tips can help you identify the most critical
open system capabilities so you can make an informed decision for your building
or project’s needs.When it comes to building automation systems, not all uses of
the term “open system” are equal. The following tips can help you identify the
most critical open system capabilities so you can make an informed decision for
your building or project’s needs.
Chuck Lehn July 09, 2021
Blog
CREATING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT FOR DINING EXPERIENCES
Restaurant owners and facility managers are among many who know how to deliver
on cleaner environments. Their businesses are built on it and can easily be shut
down because of it. Creating a worry-free dining experience and communicating
that dedication to customers is fast becoming a marketing tactic to help obtain
and keep customers.
June 25, 2021
Blog
CREATING COMFORT THROUGH HUMIDITY CONTROL
Life is slowly returning to normal, as more and more people are coming together
in their favorite eating places. For restaurant owners and facility managers
this uptick in indoor dining is a good sign after taking a $240 billion hit from
pandemic shutdowns1. For many, recovery will take years. But that recovery is
happening, which is why many building owners and facility managers are working
to ensure they are creating inviting, comfortable dining spaces where customers
can breathe easy.
June 07, 2021
Blog
BRING THE OUTDOORS IN WITH OPTIMIZED VENTILATION
“It’s more than good food that will bring customers back inside,” Greg DuChane,
Trane Restaurant Vertical market leader and engineer said. “Restaurants will
need to ensure both their employees and customers feel confident indoors. People
are ready to dine again and ensuring worry-free dining will be a key marketing
strategy in many areas.”
May 24, 2021
Blog
MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE
As we begin to transition into a post-pandemic world, indoor air quality (IAQ)
continues to be a central focus for us, our customers and the world. While
people collectively consider how and when to safely return to buildings,
addressing airborne health risks in indoor spaces is a top priority.
May 17, 2021
Blog
K-12 RENTAL PROGRAMS: SHORT-TERM AGILITY IN AN EMERGENCY
A broken HVAC chiller. Mold issues. 500 students needing to return to school.
The pressures around managing aging schools are never-ending and are further
complicated when buildings close due to faulty or broken systems. For an Alabama
elementary school, this was a reality. A two-month replacement lead time only
made it worse.
May 11, 2021
Blog
POWERING UP INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN NEW YORK STATE SCHOOLS
The COVID-19 pandemic marked the beginning of changes for in-person learning and
activities the likes of which have never been seen before in the State of New
York. As thousands of K-12 schools closed and students, families and staff
prepared for self-quarantine and limited social interactions, superintendents
were confronted with complex and, in some cases, conflicting challenges.
May 10, 2021
ACHIEVING THE WATER-ENERGY CONSERVATION “SWEET SPOT"
While the focus on climate change has driven reduced energy consumption,
attention to water conservation is increasing because fresh water supplies are
diminishing. At the current consumption rate, this situation will only get
worse.
Blog
THREE-STEP APPROACH HELPS SCHOOL DISTRICT OPEN CLASSROOMS QUICKLY
Re-opening schools required improving indoor air quality (IAQ) to mitigate
health risks for a safer in-person learning environment. Located in an
industrial center that generates airborne particulates and odors that preclude
opening windows, the district also faced budgetary constraints. Additionally,
the district’s outdated (HVAC) heating, ventilation and air conditioning system
couldn’t support use of ASHRAE®-recommended MERV 13 filters.
April 29, 2021
Blog
ARE YOU PRIORITIZING IAQ EFFICIENTLY?
The importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) has truly changed. IAQ is now seen as
a critical factor in determining the overall health of your building and
addressing the well-being of those who occupy it. Even prior to 2020, EPA
studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicated that indoor levels of
pollutants may be two to five times higher than outdoor levels.
April 22, 2021
Blog
IS YOUR BUILDING WELL?
In response, many building owners, managers and tenants are seeking validation
through independent healthy building certifications and recognition. One of the
leading organizations in the field is the International Well Building Institute®
(IWBI). As a proud member of the IWBI, Trane® is actively engaged with the
organization. We are sharing research and latest innovations, working together
to solve today’s IEQ challenges.
April 16, 2021
TRANE OFFERS NEW COLD STORAGE OPTION TO BOOST VACCINE EFFORT
As vaccine manufacturers continue to roll out COVID-19 vaccines, thousands of
health care networks, hospitals, and large and small pharmacy groups around the
world are working to properly receive and house the critical cargo, which has
unique and specific cold storage requirements.
NO SILVER BULLETS FOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY
In the past year we have faced many challenges, not the least of which has been
a global health crisis which continues to take its toll on our communities. The
pandemic has raised awareness of the general indoor air quality (IAQ) topic,
including not only aspects related to pathogens like the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but
also aspects related to other contaminants (dust, allergens, volatile organic
compounds, etc.). People were already spending almost 95% of their time in
enclosed spaces , and this percentage became even higher with the pandemic, so
IAQ and the technologies that can preserve or improve it have taken center
stage.
AVOID THE FILTER FRENZY: TAKE A METHODICAL APPROACH TO IAQ
More popular than “toilet paper in April.” That’s how a recent CNBC story
described the current shortage in high quality air filtration systems, many of
which are currently back ordered. Due to COVID-19 and the subsequent ASHRAE®
guidance to upgrade filtration to MERV 13 or greater, demand for MERV 13 pleated
filters has hit unprecedented levels. Complicating this demand, both MERV 13
pleated filters and high-demand N95 masks depend on the same media: high
electrostatic non-woven polypropylene fiber.
MOVE IAQ PROJECTS FORWARD FASTER WITH NEW TRANE FINANCING
Qualified districts may be able to complete IAQ projects immediately by bundling
the cost of an IAQ Assessment, pertinent solutions and even ongoing service into
one convenient financing solution, provided by Trane.
EXPAND YOUR EXPERTISE ON HEALTHY AND EFFICIENT SPACES
As 2021 unfolds, it may be safe to say that indoor environments have never
received quite as much attention as they have now, particularly the
environmental quality of enclosed spaces. People who may not have previously
recognized the value of your role in the building industry might now be showing
greater appreciation, or even pelting you with questions.
THREE WAYS SCHOOLS CAN FUND INDOOR AIR QUALITY INVESTMENTS TODAY
We know you want to get students back into classrooms as safely and as quickly
as possible — and keep them there safely — and we want to help you through this
monumental effort.
HOW FUNDING SOLUTIONS CAN HELP SCHOOLS IMPROVE AIR QUALITY OF CLASSROOMS
Schools, including K-12 institutions, can now take advantage of more than $80
billion in funding within the Education Stabilization Fund to improve their
learning environment — including optimizing their indoor air quality (IAQ).
SHUTDOWN READY – IDENTIFY YOUR BEST BUILDING CONNECTIVITY-LEVEL
Imagine being able to hit one “shutdown” button, to manage the process of
preparing those dozens, hundreds or even thousands of facilities for a shutdown.
A manager responsible for approximately 200 retail facilities, most of them
including commercial kitchens, for example, recently became the envy of his
fellow facility managers when he shared during a pandemic update that he was
able to do just that: complete what was essentially a “one-button shutdown.”
Blog
INTRODUCING: WELLSPHERE™, TRANE’S HOLISTIC APPROACH TO BUILDING WELLNESS
To support building owners and others navigating this new IEQ era, Trane
recently launched the Wellsphere platform. Designed to offer high-level thinking
around IEQ, Wellsphere is our holistic approach to building wellness.
December 17, 2020
COMMERCIAL INDOOR AIR QUALITY: BEST PRACTICES AND TRENDS
With COVID-19-related cases continuing across the nation, many businesses remain
focused on safely operating and maintaining their buildings. In some cases,
small changes are making big improvements and in others, long-term building
health is getting much-needed attention.
EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLANNING: KEY BEST PRACTICES
It’s critical for organizations to have an effective, proactive power and HVAC
contingency plan in place. Not only can it reduce financial risk, the
contingency plan can help protect the health and safety of building occupants
and increase peace of mind for the organization and its stakeholders.
Blog
LOWERING EMISSIONS IN THE NORTHEAST: KEY STRATEGY FOR A NEW, SUSTAINABLE GRID
The trend to decarbonize is transforming the U.S. power grid. The grid
increasingly depends less upon fossil fuels and more upon distributed energy
resources or technologies such as solar photovoltaic and offshore wind alongside
new energy efficiency, demand response, energy storage and other customer-based
technologies.
November 18, 2020
COLD AHEAD: PREPARE YOUR FACILITY NOW
With 2020 driving unprecedented demands – at work and home – you may not yet
have prepared your building for colder days. There’s still time! Here are a few
tips and recommendations from Trane® building professionals that can help you
save energy and lower your utility bills during the colder months ahead.
3 WAYS TRANE’S TRACER® SC+ CONTROLS PROVIDE OUTSTANDING EFFICIENCY FOR YOUR VRF
SYSTEM
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) technology is becoming an increasingly common
choice for commercial HVAC projects through its ability to provide outstanding
efficiencies to not only the end user, but to engineers as well as contractors.
Trane® / Mitsubishi Electric is uniquely positioned to offer complete VRF system
solutions, including all VRF and ductless equipment, an integrated controls
platform, Tracer® SC+ and industry-leading expertise you can rely on.
NOW IS THE TIME TO OPTIMIZE YOUR BUILDING’S GRID RESILIENCY
Learn how you can get ahead of future strains on the power grid – whether due to
temperature spikes, intermittent or variable renewable resources, or raging wild
fires Discover why and how to optimize your building’s grid resiliency from
systems, services and controls to energy sources.
Blog
20,000 BUILDINGS AND NEARLY 1 MILLION PIECES OF EQUIPMENT
With HVAC demand expected to triple by 2050, connected buildings that
incorporate digital controls will play a crucial role in ensuring ongoing
efficient energy management and sustainable building operations
October 26, 2020
SEVEN WAYS TO MINIMIZE INSTALLATION RISK WITH TRANE® / MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC VRF
SYSTEMS
When it comes to VRF installation, risk management is crucial. Contractors want
to know their partners have the experience and information to help guide them
from system installation to building opening. That’s why Trane offers a one-stop
solution that includes a vast product portfolio featuring Trane® / Mitsubishi
Electric VRF technology, backed by the knowledge and expertise of industry
leaders.
IAQ CAN’T WAIT. FEDERAL FUNDING CAN HELP SCHOOLS MOVE FORWARD.
Available grant money may provide the funding schools need to improve air flow,
filtration and air cleaning technology that can help mitigate the spread of
airborne pathogens,
Blog
5 REASONS ENGINEERS SHOULD CONSIDER AN INTEGRATED VRF SYSTEM WITH TRACER® SC+
CONTROLS
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are soaring in popularity throughout the
HVAC industry thanks to their ability to offer contractors and engineers the
freedom to design and install systems tailored to customers’ specific needs. The
experts at Trane have taken these benefits a step further by integrating the
Tracer® SC+ controls platform with the Trane® / Mitsubishi Electric N-Gen CITY
MULTI® series, creating a fully integrated VRF system.
October 06, 2020
TRANE TRENDS: WORK-FROM-HOME SOLUTIONS FOR PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY AND TEAM
COLLABORATION
Working outside the confines of a professional, well-designed office space can
be chaotic for an engineer (or anyone) who thrives on process and organization.
While working remotely from home, Ken Durham, Trane’s Regional Operational
Excellence Leader for the Pacific Southwest, took steps to restore his sense of
order, and his advice can help anyone do the same.
OPTIMIZE YOUR RESTAURANT ENVIRONMENT WITH CONFIDENCE
While masking, surface cleaning and social distancing can help mitigate
potential virus spread, considering other measures can help restauranteurs
reduce potential spread of certain airborne virus in a restaurant environment.
CONNECTIVITY DRIVES RESULTS FOR CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE
Connectivity can drive significant results for building owners and managers.
After all, connected buildings open the door to better service and technology
for building owners and managers. Insightful data allows for solutions that
improve a building’s performance — including decreasing greenhouse gas
emissions, increasing energy savings, and helping building owners make the right
decisions for both their facilities and the planet.
TRANE® TRENDS: ADAPTING TO NEW BUILDING PRIORITIES
As we talk to customers today, it’s easy to recognize they’re being asked to
think differently. Our products and services must also morph to meet these new
challenges and opportunities. What used to be a seemingly endless drive towards
energy efficiency is now a balance between indoor air quality and energy
efficiency – and connectivity will play a huge role in achieving this goal. How
will we offset the costs of conditioning this extra outside air?
EMPOWER YOUR TENANTS TO MATCH SYSTEM OPERATION WITH THEIR EVER-CHANGING
SCHEDULES
Tenants are innovating to facilitate social distancing, and that is causing
headaches for facility managers. Trane streamlines tenant occupancy management,
allowing occupants to change system scheduling by interacting directly with the
building automation system (BAS). This process also optimizes energy use.
RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL: COMMON CHALLENGES FOR OPTIMIZING COMMERCIAL KITCHEN
ENVIRONMENTS
With the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19, restaurant and retail building
facility managers have an even greater opportunity to create and maintain
healthier building management practices. However, maintaining, and in some cases
creating, those practices are pushing facility managers to face new challenges –
especially in commercial kitchens.
TRANE TRENDS: GROWING THROUGH NEW CHALLENGES
We have all had to change the way we interact with customers and coworkers and
find ways to stay positive during these challenging times. Kasey Connor, Trane’s
Sales Engineer, New England, sees opportunity in the adversity and believes it
may make us all better people in the long run.
OPTIMIZING HVAC MAINTENANCE WHEN RUNTIME IS NEVER THE SAME
By integrating work orders with the building automation system (BAS), Trane’s
work order management software makes it easy to order parts and perform
maintenance based on actual equipment run time.
Blog
FIVE WAYS TO BUILD YOUR BRAND IN THE “NEW NORMAL”
Building a strong and differentiated brand matters now, more than ever, as
building owners and managers navigate the challenges of the global health
crisis. Clients are looking for a solid “say” + “do” ratio and commitments from
their partners to listen, and to be transparent and authentic.
August 05, 2020
Blog
PREPARING YOUR DISTRICT: THE ABCS OF OPTIMIZING INDOOR AIR QUALITY
As a school administrator, you are already well aware there are no easy answers
regarding the best way to re-open schools. While there is heavy focus on the
importance of masking and surface cleaning, even more important is addressing
your schools’ indoor air quality (IAQ) to meet appropriate and ever-evolving
guidelines.
July 27, 2020
CONSIDER CREATIVE FINANCING TO TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH IN THE “NEW NORMAL”
Building owners and managers are facing new pressures as we all navigate the
“new normal.” While budget pressure may be higher than ever, there is also a
pressing need to optimize the indoor environment – and progressing so can meet
multiple business objectives.
WORLD REFRIGERATION DAY: HONORING OUR CLIMATE
Although we honor June 26 as World Refrigeration Day, focusing on refrigeration
– and the sustainability opportunities it offers – is a year-round emphasis for
us at Trane. Through our enterprise-wide climate commitment, we are directly
addressing climate change by offering alternatives to the way the world heats
and cools buildings and moves refrigerated cargo.
8 REASONS CONTRACTORS SHOULD EMBRACE VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOW (VRF)
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are an increasingly popular choice
regardless of a building’s size or intended use. VRF systems focus on heating
and cooling only the spaces that require individual temperature control by
circulating the optimal amount of refrigerant required for each zone, resulting
in advantages with system operation and occupancy comfort.
TRANE // YOUR PARTNER IN RESILIENCE
There’s an old saying that adversity is a great teacher. If that’s the case, the
current situation is certainly doing a lot of teaching, and we’re all doing our
fair share of learning. It's testing our mettle as individuals and as
organizations. It’s challenging us and pushing our limits in ways we couldn’t
have possibly imagined 6 months ago. But in many ways, it’s also taking us to
new heights.
THE LINK BETWEEN LED LIGHTING AND OBSERVED HEALTH, LEARNING AND PRODUCTIVITY
Use of LED lighting is transforming the role that lighting can play in an
environment. Some LED lighting technology allows for variation in lighting
intensity and color temperature that can help people augment their environment.
WHERE ARE THE TRUSTWORTHY COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR THE HVAC/BUILDING INDUSTRY?
The impact of such a pandemic is real and harsh. With most of us juggling
different roles in our life, the question on how we stay safe and productive in
tough times surface to the top. As a good citizen, we should follow the guidance
from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for personal actions. For
many of us serving in the commercial HVAC field, many industry resources have
become available recently.
YOUR CHECKLIST TO OPTIMIZE REMOTE BUILDING MANAGEMENT
The narrative around connected building technology has shifted, at least for the
time being. Efforts around comfort, sustainability and reducing energy costs
through improved building management now include strategies for doing it all
remotely, when uncommon circumstances might make it difficult to work on site.
TRANE'S ENGINEERS NEWSLETTER LIVE! SUPPORTING DISTANCE LEARNING FOR ENGINEERS
DURING COVID-19
Keep your training and certification current with Trane's Engineers Newsletter
Live! (ENL), a complementary learning program taught by a panel of experienced
and knowledgeable applications engineers.
TOP TIPS FOR REMOTE BUILDING MANAGEMENT
As the needs of facilities are rapidly changing during these unprecedented
times, Trane wants its customers to know we're here to help.
CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, RECOGNIZING AWESOME ACHIEVEMENTS BY TRANE
WOMEN
International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8, provides an
opportunity for countries around the world to recognize women’s contributions to
society and calls for the acceleration of women’s equality. This year’s campaign
theme, #EachforEqual, focuses on the concept that ‘An equal world is an enabled
world’. It encourages each individual to take an active role in helping to
broaden perceptions, promoting gender equality, and celebrating the achievements
of women.
Blog
NEXT GENERATION LIGHTING ILLUMINATES NEW OPTIONS, SIMPLIFIES HVAC INTEGRATION
Although light-emitting diode (LED) applications have been available for
decades, their use in commercial lighting has rapidly grown in recent years.
While LEDS made up just 13 percent of the market in 2017, according to the
latest LED adoption report produced by the U.S. Department of Energy, in 2035
they are expected to represent 84 percent, according to the same report.
February 26, 2020
ENERGY STORAGE: TRANSFORMING HOW WE USE-- AND PAY FOR-- ENERGY
Energy storage may be the technology that fundamentally changes the grid. It’s
important to know that buildings have two types of energy loads, electric and
thermal, and each one has an optimal storage method.
THE BENEFITS OF WIRELESS CONTROLS FOR CONNECTED BUILDINGS
Zero energy building growth has increased by 700 percent since 2012 and revenue
from these buildings is expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2035. Buildings with
the greatest flexibility can offer multiple benefits to the grid and to the
owners and managers of those buildings.
APPROACHING ZERO ENERGY
Zero energy building growth has increased by 700 percent since 2012 and revenue
from these buildings is expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2035. Buildings with
the greatest flexibility can offer multiple benefits to the grid and to the
owners and managers of those buildings.
DESIGNING AN HVAC SYSTEN WHEN YOUR BUILDING OCCUPANTS ARE GREEN
Green plants, such as lettuce, kale, basil, and other crops, are being grown by
indoor agriculture producers around the world. Maintaining an optimal
environment is just as important when plants are grown indoors as when they are
outside.
ENERGY COST SAVING METHODS FOR DATA CENTERS
When data centers want to reduce non-IT energy costs, there is no single
solution. Many strategies come to mind, and the best one…depends. It depends on
utility rate structures, local climate and natural resources, and on the type of
IT equipment and how the center is laid out. Experienced HVAC system designers
begin with energy efficient base equipment—and then we get creative. Many of the
available solutions for reducing energy costs aren’t new, but we’re finding new
ways to apply them to reduce the energy intensity of data centers.
AIR VS. WATER COOLED CHILLERS
Data centers and computer rooms are being built everywhere to accommodate the
rapidly increasing demand for data processing. Too often, systems that are
designed to manage human comfort are being applied to data centers, and they
simply aren’t up to the task. Using a comfort system where precision cooling is
required inevitably results in unplanned downtime, excessively high energy
costs, and diminished ROI due to shortened equipment life.
CONTINGENCY PLANNING
No matter what industry you are in, it is critical to develop a power and HVAC
contingency plan as part of a comprehensive crisis-response plan. Interruptions
to power and HVAC – whether from a natural disaster or other challenges – can
cause millions of dollars in damage, disrupt operations and erode stakeholder
confidence. Developing an effective power and HVAC contingency plan minimizes
financial risk, while protecting the health and safety of building occupants and
providing peace of mind for an organization and its stakeholders.
THE FUTURE OF DATA CENTER ENERGY USE
It’s one of the biggest paradoxes of our time: The world needs to build more
energy-intensive data centers to meet growing demand. Meanwhile, it has become
imperative to reduce carbon emissions to put the brakes on climate change. It’s
both a challenge and an opportunity to introduce technologies that could
transform building energy use forever—across all sectors—including machine
learning and artificial intelligence.
COMFORT VS PRECISION COOLING
Data centers and computer rooms are being built everywhere to accommodate the
rapidly increasing demand for data processing. Too often, systems that are
designed to manage human comfort are being applied to data centers, and they
simply aren’t up to the task. Using a comfort system where precision cooling is
required inevitably results in unplanned downtime, excessively high energy
costs, and diminished ROI due to shortened equipment life.
ASHRAESETSNEWSUBBASE
Business values are driving even greater progress
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGE?
As the dynamic HVAC industry continues to grow and change, it finds itself faced
with a growing skilled labor shortage.
DUCTLESS BLOG, TWO OR THREE PIPE
After you’ve decided variable refrigerant flow (VRF) is the best HVAC solution
for your building, you’re tasked with another important decision: do you choose
two- or three-pipe technology? The answer can depend on many variables,
including the building application, architecture and age, to name a few.
WOMEN IN HVAC: HOW WE ARE CLOSING THE GENDER AND JOB CANDIDATE GAPS
The calendar just closed on the 2019 celebration of International Women’s Day.
With a new flood of college graduates poised to hit the job market, our leaders
remain focused on encouraging increased representation of women in heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) jobs.
HERE’S WHAT YOU MISSED AT THE 2019 AHR EXPO
Didn't make it to the 2019 AHR Expo or just want to re-live the excitement?
Check out our booth tour video and read about booth highlights from this year's
show.
AN UPDATE ON PG&E'S BANKRUPTCY
Based in San Francisco, PG&E is the largest utility in the nation. It provides
electric and natural gas services to 16 million customers across a 70,000 square
mile area of northern and central California.
4 QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE YOUR EQUIPMENT UPGRADE STRATEGY
You may be at a crossroads between replacing or retrofitting your building’s
HVAC equipment due to age. We know this because the U.S. Energy Information
Administration has reported that nearly half of all commercial buildings were
constructed before 1980.1
U.S. NATURAL GAS PRICES SPIKE TO LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE 2014
Closing Wednesday at $4.84 per MMBtu, prompt-month natural gas prices have
soared to their highest levels since 2014. Despite the multi-year high levels,
this move wasn’t totally unexpected and Trane has been warning clients about the
possibility of a winter price run-up since signs started pointing that direction
in the summer months.
THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT VPPAS
What’s in your sustainability playbook? Purchasing renewable energy from a local
provider, reducing overall energy consumption and installing distributed
renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, should all be
considered as part of a holistic approach to energy and environmental impact.
Blog
THE HIGH COST OF PROCESSING YOUR OWN ENERGY INVOICES
An independent study recently calculated the cost of processing a single energy
invoice at $13.04. A line item under $20 probably won’t catch the attention of
the finance director, but a deeper look into missed benefits and opportunities
elevates the priority.
October 30, 2018
LOW STORAGE LEVELS COULD SPIKE U.S. WINTER NATURAL GAS PRICES
With the winter just a few weeks away, it has become increasingly clear that the
U.S. will go into this heating season with the lowest amount of gas in storage
since 2003. Storage is now expected to be at just 3.25 trillion cubic feet
(Tcf), well below the 3.8 Tcf that was seen last year and the record 4.05 Tcf
that we had to start the winter of 2016-2017. Some colder temperatures to end
October are expected to put injections below normal over the next few weeks.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY NEED NOT BE CONTROVERSIAL
As corporate sustainability efforts are at an all-time high, there is increasing
interest in how these efforts are reported and how they impact overall business.
While many companies wish to be seen as leaders in sustainability, some question
if these efforts are compatible with their core business functions. This dilemma
is best exemplified in two incidents from the past several weeks.
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH MIKE PATTERSON, AGILITY PRODUCT MANAGER
Commercial buildings are facing a challenge rooted more than 20 years ago.
Before 1980, large heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units were
often placed in hard-to-reach areas — basement-level mechanical and utility
rooms — to hide their bulky large appearance.
CANADIAN LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG) FACILITY MOVING FORWARD
After years of waiting in uncertainty, LNG Canada, a major liquefied natural gas
(LNG) liquefaction and export project in British Columbia, is finally moving
forward.
Blog
4 WAYS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR BUILDING'S PERFORMANCE ON A BUDGET
Delaying building improvements because of budget can ultimately cost more in
reduced performance and inefficiency. So don’t wait. Here are four opportunities
for building optimization on a budget.
October 03, 2018
POWER BILL 101: WHAT’S DRIVING YOUR PRICE? REVEALING THE SECRETS OF YOUR ENERGY
BILL
Electricity bills can be painful. Ask businesses about their operating expenses,
and most will say that energy is in their top three. If the utilities in your
state are regulated, look to optimize your utility rate schedule.
U.S. NATURAL GAS EXPORTS TO MEXICO AT RECORD HIGHS
With two new pipelines entering service in June (Nueva Era and El
Encinco-Topolobampo), U.S. piped gas to Mexico has been soaring to all-time
highs.
PREDICTIVE BUILDING ANALYTICS: THE FUTURE OF HVAC AUTOMATION
Would you feel more confident in your building’s performance if technology could
predict equipment failures before they happen? In the Internet of Things (IoT)
age, this level of insight is possible and is known as predictive analytics.
THE FORMULA FOR ENERGY SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
When customers ask for our help in analyzing their energy bill, we start by
building a fundamental understanding of the influencing factors.
Blog
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT USING R-22 IN HVAC SYSTEMS
R-22 was the most popular refrigerant used in commercial and residential air
conditioning units for many years because it was considered a safe and
cost-efficient refrigerant choice by the HVACR industry. But as anyone in the
industry knows, R-22 was phased out in the U.S. beginning in 2010 because it is
ozone depleting.
August 21, 2018
WHERE IS WIND ENERGY IN THE U.S. HEADED?
With natural gas first and solar third, wind has been the second most prolific
source of new U.S. power generation capacity over the past 15 years or so.
NEVADA LOOKS TOWARD ELECTRICITY DEREGULATION VOTE
Nationally, the trend of power deregulation seems to have largely stabilized.
While there are some occasional efforts in states like Ohio or Michigan to
re-regulate, these rarely make it past the introduction of a bill or speculation
on the part of a utility spokesperson. Similarly, few states seem to be
interested in deregulating (or in the case of California and Michigan, further
deregulating) their power sector.
Blog
SUMMER ENERGY BEST PRACTICES
In the warm summer months, electrical demand goes up, driving prices higher.
Meanwhile, HVAC equipment kicks into high gear to keep occupants cool. It’s the
annual conundrum as building operators struggle to maintain the balance between
cost and comfort. It’s time to take on a few summer energy projects.
July 24, 2018
HOW TO GET STARTED WITH CONNECTED BUILDINGS
The ability to connect building systems and equipment through the internet has
been around for years thanks to advancing technology and better equipment
design. This capability has led to a trend in connected or smart buildings where
connected devices (e.g., lighting, security systems and HVAC equipment) produce
data that can be captured and applied to significantly increase efficiency and
save money.
DO THE BULLS HAVE A CHANCE?
Is sub-$3.00 natural gas the new normal? Can the NYMEX prompt-month contract
actually make a rally? In short, do the bulls have a chance anymore?
HOW DOES THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE ADD VALUE TO YOUR ZERO ENERGY BUILDING STRATEGY?
Fueled by new regulations such as those being imposed in California and
Vancouver, Canada, requiring net zero new construction; challenges by
organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for all new
buildings to be carbon neutral by 2030; new building codes encouraging less
energy use; real estate firms wanting to differentiate their holdings in the
competitive marketplace; and building owners just wanting to do the right thing
for the environment, the Zero Energy Building (ZEB) concept is receiving
increased emphasis in the commercial real estate industry.
WHAT GOING BEYOND MEANS TO STEVE TUDOR, ACCOUNT MANAGER IN NASHVILLE, TN
Let’s Go Beyond™ -- The tagline permeates Trane literature, advertisements,
vehicles, videos, websites and tradeshow materials. Used to convey our company’s
personality and character, the tagline elevates us beyond the simple and known,
onto bigger thinking and bigger problem solving, showing that Trane is leading
the way beyond just products to systems, services and total solutions.
MORE ACCURATE VALUATION FINDS THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE UP TO 77 PERCENT MORE
IMPACTFUL THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT
According to a recent research project, Valuation of Thermal Energy Storage for
Utility Grid Operators, conducted by the Western Cooling Efficiency Center at
University of California-Davis (UC Davis), thermal energy storage can provide
significantly greater benefits to utilities and electricity grid operators than
previously thought.
HOW DO RISING OIL PRICES IMPACT THE U.S. NATURAL GAS MARKET?
From the OPEC-led production cuts to global geopolitical turmoil to surging
demand in China, a variety of factors have been pushing oil prices to four-year
highs. U.S. WTI has recently been up 20% this year to over $71 per barrel, and
the possibility of $100 oil has entered the market.
THERMAL AND BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE WORKING TOGETHER FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE RESULTS
The energy market is going through a mass transformation. Fossil fuels are being
used less and less and renewable energy is on the rise. As a result, an
important element is disappearing – energy storage.
4 REASONS VRF IS THE HVAC SOLUTION FOR YOUR BUILDING
Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) is the ideal HVAC technology for facilities that
need an energy-efficient solution. Unlike other options, VRF systems can produce
30 to 40 percent energy savings, which is significant when 50 percent of a
building’s energy usage comes from its HVAC system.
CONNECTED BUILDINGS: WHY YOU NEED TO GO BEYOND THE DATA
Over the last five years, the terms “smart” or “connected” buildings have been
used regularly, but what does that look like in practice? And how does it equate
to business results?
WOMEN IN HVAC: WHAT WE’RE DOING AND WHY IT MATTERS
With Women's History Month and International Women’s Day both in March, it was
the perfect time for companies like ours to reflect on what we’re doing to
inspire and encourage women in HVAC — and what more could be done.
ACHIEVING AIR QUALITY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND OCCUPANT COMFORT WITH AIR HANDLING
UNITS – WITH HOSPITAL CASE STUDY
With every breath you take, you’re measuring the air quality around you.
Maintaining good air quality is key to creating a comfortable environment in a
facility, for patrons and residents. But how do you attain good air quality,
especially when you’re dealing with multiple factors like climate, the building
systems, and regulations?
WHAT FIVE ACTIONS WOULD REAL RESILIENCY ADDRESS?
Reliability has long been associated with the power sector and is, in fact, one
of the cornerstones of the modern electric grid. Defined broadly as a utility’s
ability to supply as much power as is needed at any given time, it is encoded in
standards at every level, from NERC to state regulatory commissions.
Significantly, these standards are quantitatively backed, enabling outcomes to
be analyzed in detail to identify problems and ensure that expensive solutions
to edge case scenarios are not over applied.
INTRODUCING … THE NEW INTELLIPAK® ROOFTOP SYSTEM WITH SYMBIO™ 800 CONNECTED
CONTROLS
We talked to Charles Abbinanti, Product Manager for Trane® large commercial
rooftop equipment, to ask him what’s in store for the latest product release,
coming in May. What’s new? What’s improved? And how Is Intellipak maximizing
outcomes for our customers? Read on.
THE $13 BILLION A YEAR MYSTERY: UNDERSTANDING PJM’S DEMAND CHARGES
PJM Interconnection, the Regional Transmission Organization that serves over 65
million people in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, is one of the most poorly
understood entities in the U.S.’s electric landscape. PJM is the grid operator
in 13 states plus Washington, DC, controlling and optimizing the flow of power
through 82,000 miles of transmission lines spanning Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
the Washington Beltway, and much of the Midwest.
SOUND STUDY: DOES HVAC EQUIPMENT SUPPORT LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS?
In the average school day, children spend 75 percent of their time listening.
They listen to their teacher, they listen to each other, they listen to
presentations and videos and readings — they listen to learn.
WHAT'S UP WITH TEXAS POWER? (OTHER THAN THE COST)
Summer power is always more expensive in Texas. This is not surprising as ERCOT,
the corporation that runs the power grid for most of the state, has eschewed a
capacity market and instead allows price spikes to compensate occasional
generation.
NORTHEAST GAS PIPELINE SHORTAGES IMPACT PRICING AND CLEAN ENERGY GOALS
Despite not producing any themselves, the six states in New England have surged
their reliance on natural gas-fired electricity generation. ISO New England now
receives approximately 50% of its power generation from natural gas, versus
10-15% a decade ago.
THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEMS - REMARKABLE RESILIENCE FROM A SUSTAINABLE FOOTPRINT
We spend roughly 90% of our time inside structures, and these structures require
cooling to offset heat generated by us, our computers, lighting, and the ambient
temperatures outside. Most cooling systems demand electricity during peak-demand
periods. These demands are usually > 50% of the entire energy demand of the
building.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT LATEST RETROFIT CHILLER TECHNOLOGY IN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
As buildings age, so does the equipment that keeps the environment comfortable.
There are options for older infrastructure to improve efficiency.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT-GENERATION REFRIGERANTS
Regardless of the ups and downs of regulations in the U.S., the transition is
going forward and has already begun. Our next generation products are available
throughout our portfolio and are nonflammable so our customers have choices
today.
HOW WILL TWO NEW PJM PROPOSALS IMPACT YOUR POWER?
The PJM Interconnection has in recent months put forward two proposals that
could have significant impacts on delivered power prices in the region. One
would alter how LMPs (Locational Marginal Price, the technical name for the cost
of energy) are calculated while the other would change how capacity charges,
fixed fees paid to generators, are created.
SIX WAYS TO KEEP BREATHING FROM BEING DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH
With people spending approximately 90% of their time indoors, the correlation
between illness, respiratory problems and other issues with the indoor
environment is quite strong.
SOLAR TARIFFS, PIPELINE APPROVAL HIGHLIGHT RECENT REGULATORY DECISIONS
On Monday, January 22 President Trump approved new tariffs on imported solar
panels and solar cells. The decision is in response to claims from SolarWorld
and Suniva that increasing imports from foreign companies were negatively
impacting domestic solar companies.
GLOBAL OIL & GAS DISCOVERIES FELL IN 2017 - BUT THE FUTURE SHINES BRIGHT
Last year was a down one for adding new oil and gas discoveries to the global
stockpile. Less than 7 billion barrels of oil equivalent were discovered, the
lowest total since the 1940s.
NET-ZERO TO HERO: A HEAT RECOVERY RETROFIT AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA
Finding the sweet spot of energy efficiency and comfort is challenging enough
for a standard building, but it truly gets tricky when multiple areas are thrown
in the mix. “We have all sorts of spaces — Omnitheater, gift shop, exhibit
halls, restaurants and catering facilities, exhibit and graphic production
shops, meeting rooms and classrooms, and a parking ramp — that all have
different energy needs,” said Todd Gray, assistant superintendent of facilities,
Science Museum of Minnesota.
FEDERAL TAX CUTS COULD MEAN POWER SAVINGS FOR END USERS
With the signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, many state Public Utility
Commissions (PUC) are now looking at how the bill will affect the utilities that
they regulate.
APPALACHIA DRIVES GROWTH IN U.S. NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION
In its monthly Drilling Productivity Report, the U.S. Energy Information
Administration has recently combined its production data on the “Marcellus” and
“Utica” shale plays into...
ESSENTIAL HVAC EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPORARY ICE RINKS
Learn about the different types of HVAC equipment that are essential when
building and maintaining portable ice rinks.
Blog
TRACE® 3D PLUS BUILDING DESIGN MODELING: MORE INTUITIVE, MORE ACCURATE, MORE
EFFICIENT AND MORE VISUALLY DYNAMIC
Robots… drones… wearable technologies… the smartphone we carry in our pocket. As
consumers, we constantly look for the latest and greatest technologies, designed
to...
December 05, 2017
CONNECTICUT MOVES CLOSER TO A NUCLEAR SUBSIDY
On October 31 Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law Senate Bill
1501. This bill would give the state’s only nuclear generator, the Millstone
nuclear facility, the chance to...
HELP MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF IOT FROM BUILDING EQUIPMENT
Connected buildings, the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart devices are popular
industry buzzwords. But do your clients have a true understanding of what a
connected building..
OIL PRICES ARE FINALLY STARTING TO RISE
Now at their highest levels since mid-2015, oil prices have steadily increased
in recent weeks. International benchmark Brent has breached the technical and
psychological barrier of...
WIRELESS VS WIRED BUILDING AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS
We are hearing a lot about replacing wired with wireless solutions today. While
many agree with the wireless benefits, they also wonder which technology...
NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION REACHES RECORD LEVELS
Domestic dry natural gas production reached a record 75.8 Bcf/d on Thursday,
October 26 as output continues to grow and infrastructure projects start to come
online or near completion. The record production comes after relatively flat...
COLDER DAYS ARE COMING, NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE
In most regions, the hot summer days are finally behind us. Even though the
temperature is falling, your HVAC system will still work hard over the coming
months. October is National Energy Awareness Month...
EPA REPEALS CLEAN POWER PLAN
On October 10th the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Scott Pruitt, announced that he was signing a proposal to repeal the Clean Power
Plan (CPP), effectively ending the embattled program. This move was largely...
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION SET TO MAKE RECOMMENDATION ON U.S. SOLAR CELLS
CASE
On September 25, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted unanimously
to side with Suniva Inc. and SolarWorld Americas Inc.’s claims that foreign-made
crystalline silicon solar cells and panels were...
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PROPOSES MARKET CHANGES
On September 28th, the Department of Energy (DOE) proposed that the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) require independent system operators make
whole certain “baseload” energy generators. This is only the second time in the
history that...
SUSTAINABLE ALCHEMY IN VERMONT
After eight years of success at their original location, co-owners John and Jen
Kimmich decided to open a second Alchemist Brewery location to help meet their
growing production needs...
HURRICANES HARVEY AND IRMA AND THE IMPACT TO NATURAL GAS PRICES
The impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma on natural gas prices was mostly muted.
In fact for futures contracts, on Friday August 25, right when Harvey's Texas
landfall was imminent, prompt-month...
GRAND HYATT NEW YORK AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND
SUSTAINABILITY
Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and
efficient environments, joined international leaders from business, government
and civil society at Climate Week NYC 2017 in New York City to discuss the
momentum of global climate action.
DOES YOUR SCHOOL HAVE POOR IAQ?
Nearly half of the nation’s school buildings have reported problems related to
indoor air quality (IAQ). Why does IAQ in school buildings matter? Numerous
studies link IAQ to student health and...
ON THE DOE WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY MARKETS AND RELIABILITY REPORT
Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) released its anticipated study on
wholesale electricity markets and reliability. Commissioned by Energy Secretary
Rick Perry, the report examines if...
RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOR CUTTING ENERGY COSTS IN HALF WITH 2017
ENERGY EFFICIENCY LEADER AWARD FROM TRANE
Both Trane® and Ingersoll Rand remain committed to reducing the environmental
impacts of the company’s operations and product portfolio. In fact, we reported
significant progress toward...
LESSONS IN POWER DEREGULATION: MONTANA
In recent months, there has been more talk around the creation of a new
Independent Service Operator (ISO) in the western U.S., sparked by Nevada’s
November 2016 preliminary vote to...
THE OUTLOOK FOR U.S. PASSENGER ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Although EVs are gaining in popularity, they remain a niche market. A stronger
future seems assured.
DESPITE CURTAILMENT COMPLIANCE, CRUDE PRICES CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE
In November 2016, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or
OPEC, announced that it would start to curtail its crude oil production in
January 2017 for the first time in nine years...
THREE WAYS BIRMINGHAM CHOSE TO BE BOLD
Failing building systems, unsafe conditions and exorbitant energy repairs were a
wake-up call for the city of Birmingham, Alabama...
AN UPDATE ON CALIFORNIA’S ALISO CANYON NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY (PART 2)
The Aliso Canyon natural gas leak was a public health and environmental
catastrophe. Thousands of families were relocated from their homes, many
complaining of health issues. The damage done to...
BIRMINGHAM TAKES BOLD ACTIONS TO CUT ENERGY COSTS
Fixing problems in aging buildings was taking a financial toll on the city of
Birmingham, Alabama. City leaders spent emergency funds to make repairs and keep
facilities in working condition. Failing building systems forced the closure
of...
ORGANIZING A CRITICAL SYSTEMS CONTINGENCY PLAN
From natural disasters to everyday mechanical failures, all facilities face some
level of risk due to power, HVAC or compressed air failure. A failure could
result in anything from minor discomfort due to lack of temperature control to
losing hundreds ...
AN UPDATE ON CALIFORNIA’S ALISO CANYON NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY
In October 2015, Southern California’s Aliso Canyon, the second largest natural
gas storage site in the U.S., sprung a leak. It took over four months to plug
the blowout, which more than doubled the...
HELPING SCHOOLS GET STRAIGHT-A’S IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
K-12 schools spend $8 billion annually on energy costs — more than they spend on
computers and textbooks combined — and Energy Star® estimates about...
DUCTLESS OFFERS GREAT ENERGY COST SAVINGS
For many builders and property managers, the biggest reason to switch to a
ductless heating and cooling system is the overall ultimate cost savings...
IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUC AND TALKS LIKE A DUC...
When natural gas producers successfully drill a new well, they do not
automatically extract all the gas. Some of these wells are capped, their gas to
be used another day...
GLOBAL ACTION THAT MATTERS
Climate action is a global issue and we strive to offer our customers around the
world choices about when and how they want to achieve both their business and
sustainability goals...
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRICES?
The link between crude oil and natural gas prices is critical for end-users:
these two sources are increasingly being produced by the same companies and
together supplied 70% of U.S. energy demand in 2016. To set the context, Figure
1 demonstrates oil and gas prices since 1997.
PJM POWER PRICES ARE DOWN…A LOT
Power pricing in PJM is down. Since 2015, we have seen average prices for 2019
power drop from $45 per megawatt hour (MWh) to $35/MWh, with 2020 prices even
lower than that...
HOW TO KNOW IF DUCTLESS HVAC IS RIGHT FOR YOU
When you think of most HVAC systems, you likely don’t think of a ductless system
if you’re in North America. But in Europe and Asia, ductless HVAC has been the
industry norm for more than 30 years and has been used extensively...
SENATE CONFIRMATION PROCESS FOR FERC COMMISSIONERS UNDERWAY
On May 25, two nominees for positions at the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC), Neil Chatterjee and Robert Poweleson, were interviewed by...
COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE ACTION
Ingersoll Rand remains committed to climate action, including reducing energy
demand and greenhouse gas emissions related to our products and operations.
Regardless of political opinion...
DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN: OPEC AND FRIENDS AGREE TO CUT PRODUCTION
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and a group of high
producing allies, including Russia, have agreed to extend their combined 1.8
million barrels per day production cuts for...
3 STEPS FOR REDUCING RESTAURANT ENERGY COSTS
Restaurant owners and facility managers are challenged every day to improve
energy efficiency and reduce utility costs. So what can be done about it...
5 TIPS FOR SUSTAINING RESULTS FROM YOUR ENERGY PROJECTS
With summer right around the corner, energy efficiency is at the top of every
facility manager’s mind. No one wants to be forced into the position of having
to choose between increases costs – either due to...
WORLD FM DAY: HONORING OUR BUILDING’S HEROES
Simply put: the role of today’s facility manager is tough. Every day, in every
corner of the world, facility managers are hard at work making a positive impact
on our environments, people and communities. They do this while...
TIPS FOR REVIEWING THE PROGRESS IN YOUR ENERGY PROJECTS
Buildings today are full of hidden potential and more connected than ever – with
access to valuable data and insight, new levels of efficiencies can be reached.
In honor of World FM Day, we’ve compiled a few tips from our experts to help
you...
THE TRIAD OF U.S. NATURAL GAS DEMAND GROWTH
Thanks to a shale production boom, falling prices, and its cleaner burning and
versatile nature, there has been a rush to utilize natural gas in the United
States. Looking forward, there are three sectors that will significantly
increase demand...
MEET THE ZEC. IT’S COMPLETELY THE SAME AS THE REC, BUT NOT AT ALL.
In the past months two states have passed legislation creating Zero Emissions
Credit, or ZEC, programs. While the name “Zero Emissions,” seems to hint at a...
NEW TRANSMISSION REQUIRED FOR MORE WIND AND SOLAR
Perhaps the biggest obstacle to our national goal of deploying more wind and
solar energy is their incapacity to be physically transported to a power plant
like coal or natural gas. Because of this, the generating facility must be...
TWO ATTEMPTED CAPACITY REFORMS IN MISO COME TO NAUGHT
In the past weeks, two different efforts to change MISO’s capacity system have
concluded. One, an in-the-weeds discussion on how transmission affects capacity
pricing, ended with a...
DRILL BABY, DRILL - HOW THE PERMIAN BASIN IS LEADING THE E&P RESURGENCE IN THE
UNITED STATES
The natural gas and crude oil exploration and production (E&P) sector took a hit
in 2016. A downturn in both gas and crude pricing, where both traded at prices
not seen in more than...
NEW YORK RELEASES PLAN FOR DISTRIBUTED RESOURCES
In late January, the New York Independent Service Operator (NYISO) released its
updated Distributed Energy Roadmap. This document aims to address many of the
concerns around...
THE U.S. NATURAL GAS PROFILE: A GUIDE FOR DOMESTIC CONSUMERS
All natural gas consumers should understand the dynamic U.S. gas demand
structure as the competition for gas is becoming increasingly fierce. Given low
prices and broadening environmental goals, natural gas is easily...
CHANGES IN ONTARIO CAPACITY MARKET MARK NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL INDUSTRIALS
Independent Electricity System Operator, the Independent System Operator for
Ontario, Canada, recently changed its capacity market to give medium-sized
industrial customers the option to augment...
THE OUTLOOK FOR U.S. NUCLEAR POWER
The U.S. nuclear power industry faces an uncertain future. While nuclear has
held its 18-20% share of U.S. electricity generation, the total number of
nuclear reactors/plants has fallen to...
NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION FALLS IN 2016, LOOKS TO REBOUND IN 2017
Over the past decade, the “shale revolution” has redefined natural gas
production in the United States. The combination of advancements in hydraulic
fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling opened up numerous new drilling
basins in...
U.S. NORTHEAST GAS PLAYS GETTING CRITICAL PIPELINE RELIEF
Even since the price collapse started 2014, natural gas production in the
Marcellus has increased nearly 15% to 18.3 Bcf/d, with output in the neighboring
Utica up 130% to 4.1 Bcf/d. These two northeast shale plays are almost single
handedly reversing the U.S. gas market to flow more north to...
ELECTRIC IMPORTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT: WHAT THE NEW ENGLAND CLEAN POWER LINK
TELLS US ABOUT DEMAND
"On December 5th the New England Clean Power Link (NECPL) received its
Presidential Permit, a required license for any transmission project that links
the U.S. power grid to that of another country. The $1.2 billion project,
financed by... "
December 17, 2016
THE U.S. LEADING A GLOBALIZING NATURAL GAS MARKET
Today, only about 33% of all natural gas used is traded internationally, versus
66% for oil. Gas has typically been sold in three regionalized markets with
different contract structures; North America (hub-based), Asia Pacific
(oil-indexed), and Europe (hub-based and oil-indexed). But, the sale of LNG is
transforming natural gas from...
OPEC’S PRODUCTION CUTS: WILL THEY MATTER?
After weeks of negotiations, OPEC ministers in Vienna on Wednesday agreed to
lower their oil supplies to ease a global glut that has halved prices since
2014. The 14 Member Countries worked a deal to cut crude production by...
CAPEX REDUCTIONS TODAY COULD LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR A PRICE SPIKE
The oil and gas price collapse has discouraged investments in future production
in recent months and is setting up a potential spike in prices. The industry is
caught in an underinvestment cycle that could reverberate much sooner than most
realize...
LOOKING FORWARD: WHAT A TRUMP PRESIDENCY MAY MEAN FOR U.S. ENERGY MARKETS
President-elect Donald Trump is now in place. While promising to “cancel” the
COP21 Paris Accord accepted under President Obama and pushing a fossil fuel-led
revival to underpin job growth, a Trump administration will rearrange domestic
energy and...
ENERGY MODELING SOFTWARE
It’s an often-repeated statistic: about 40 percent of the energy used in this
country is consumed in residential and commercial buildings. That’s more energy
than is used in both the transportation and energy sectors. Alarmingly, however,
much of that energy is wasted — 30 percent in the average commercial building,
according to Energy Star. So, what can be done?
MEXICO’S NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION EXPECTED TO INCREASE
The catalyst for Mexico’s historic 2013 Energy Reforms was the 2004 peaking of
the Cantarell oil field in the Gulf of Mexico, once responsible for over half of
Mexico’s energy production and the second largest oil field in the world.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE U.S. NATURAL GAS STORAGE INVENTORY
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Weekly Storage Report and the
overall natural gas storage inventory have long been drivers of NYMEX natural
gas pricing in the United States. The weekly report, released at 10:30 AM ET on
Thursdays, details the weekly changes to domestic natural gas storage inventory
levels and tends to be followed by a quick flurry of trading activity....
HEARING ON THE CLEAN POWER PLAN INCONCLUSIVE
On September 27th the DC Circuit Court held hearings on the Clean Power Plan
(CPP), an action that many have wanted since its proposal by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) last August.
TOP 5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AT HEALTHCARE
ORGANIZATIONS
With over 80% of all capital decisions being made by Executives, many healthcare
organizations since 2009 have downsized their middle management ranks and thus
more scrutiny is being placed on lower dollar capital decisions...
CANADA’S FUTURE NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION
With the North American shale revolution the key energy development of the past
decade, it’s surprising to know that Canada’s natural gas production has
actually been...
RISING U.S. NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION
Despite some of the lowest prices in 20 years, U.S. natural gas production has
continued to increase. Thanks to the widespread deployment of hydraulic
fracturing and horizontal drilling technologies, national output has gained
every year since 2006 and is closing in on...
GET YOUR BUILDING READY FOR THE CHANGING SEASONS
The dog days of summer will soon be in your rear view mirror. Even though the
temperature is falling, your building and equipment will still be called upon to
work hard in the coming months...
COLDER DAYS ARE COMING — NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE
Even though the temperature is falling, your building and equipment will still
be called upon to work hard in the coming months. And now is the time to look
ahead to ensure your systems and equipment are up to the task...
U.S. LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG) EXPORT MARKET UPDATE
The U.S. natural gas industry has gone global via the export of LNG. In the
first six months of this year, nearly 50 Bcf of LNG was shipped out, and the
U.S. is set to become a net LNG exporter in 2017. The rapidly globalizing gas
market is a critical new outlet for...
INVESTING IN PROJECTS NOW CAN PAY OFF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
In most cases in life, it’s better to be proactive than reactive, and now is the
time to consider what improvement projects need to be done that will pay off...
NOW IS THE TIME TO CONSIDER BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS
As summer winds down, you likely have a better idea of what improvements can be
made in your building to help optimize energy efficiency, occupant comfort and
equipment performance. Now is a good time to consider...
HOW TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Taking stock of issues as summer wraps up — and getting a clear picture of the
health of your systems and equipment — will help you prepare for the next summer
season...
HOW SUMMER REVEALS OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Each season is like a history lesson about your building — allowing building
owners and managers to capture a snapshot of equipment performance, efficiency,
energy use and...
ARE RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS RIGHT FOR YOUR BUILDING?
Renewable energy solutions can be a feasible option to help reduce your
building’s dependence on the grid so you are buying less energy in the summer...
ARE RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS RIGHT FOR YOUR BUILDING?
Renewable energy solutions can be a feasible option to help reduce your
building’s dependence on the grid so you are buying less energy in the summer —
and all year long.
HOW CAN RENEWABLE ENERGY BENEFIT YOUR BUILDING THIS SUMMER — AND ALL YEAR LONG
Renewable energy solutions can be a feasible option to help reduce your
building’s dependence on the energy grid so you are buying less energy in the
summer — and all year long...
3 WAYS TO CONTROL YOUR ENERGY SPEND THIS SUMMER
With summer temps hitting record levels in May and June, it is important to look
for ways to control energy costs. Energy spend is a big part of your budget,
and...
HOW UNDERSTANDING YOUR ENERGY COSTS CAN SAVE YOU GREEN THIS SUMMER
With summer temps hitting record levels, building owners and managers are
looking for ways to control energy costs. Your energy spend is a big part of
your budget, and there are two main ways to impact it...
BEING PREPARED FOR POWER DISRUPTION IS AS EASY AT 1, 2, 3
A power outage can result in business interruption that is costly for you and
your building tenants...
CANADA’S FUTURE NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION
With the North American shale revolution the key energy development of the past
decade, it’s surprising to know that Canada’s natural gas production has
actually been falling. Canada is still the world's...
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED THIS SUMMER?
Summer’s extreme heat and potential for severe weather increase the risk of
unexpected equipment failure and power outages. These disruptions can occur for
many reasons...
NUCLEAR DECAY
Regulators are facing a dilemma of what to do with nuclear power generation in
the coming years. Over the past two months, the retirements of four nuclear
power plants across Illinois, California, and Nebraska have been announced...
REDUCING UTILITY COSTS IN THE SUMMER BEGINS WITH MONITORING ENERGY USE
Commercial building owners and managers know that summer typically brings much
higher utility bills. But what you may not know is that even simple changes can
have a big impact on your utility bills...
WANT TO REDUCE UTILITY COSTS THIS SUMMER? IT STARTS WITH MONITORING
Commercial building owners and managers are often searching for relief from the
much higher utility bills that summer can bring. This is especially true in
California, where average electricity prices for commercial customers last
summer were...
MANAGE THE SUMMER HEAT WITH THESE BUILDING TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS
Finding performance-improving solutions for commercial buildings is important
all year long, but it is especially critical in the summer. The increased demand
on your building and its systems can result in...
BETTER CONTROL FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY
Finding performance-improving solutions for buildings is important all year
long, but it is especially critical in the summer. The increased demand on your
building and its systems can result in...
FOUR PHASES OF RETROCOMMISSIONING
There are steps you can take to minimize the impact summer’s increased demand
has on your building, even on the hottest days. Equipment is often...
DON’T LET THE URBAN SUMMER HEAT DERAIL YOUR BUILDING’S PERFORMANCE
Summer in New York City can present a unique set of challenges for commercial
building owners and managers. Beyond the need for increased power to cool
buildings, there are a number of...
HOW HEAT IMPACTS BUILDING PERFORMANCE
Beyond the need for increased power to cool buildings, there are a number of
factors that can put increased pressure on your building systems in the summer
months, including...
ERCOT PRICE SPIKES
Last week, fear of increased heat across Texas pushed ERCOT North’s August peak
contract price to $89.90 per MWh, an increase of...
KEEP YOUR BUILDING ON-TRACK THIS SUMMER
Ongoing validation of your results is a key step to help ensure your strategies
are yielding big results. Validation helps keep your building on track, while
also gaining...
USE VALIDATION TO MAINTAIN YOUR SAVINGS
Validating your outcomes is a key step to help ensure your strategies are
yielding big results. Validation helps keep your building on track while also
gaining the buy in, resources and funding you may need for...
GAIN CONTROL WITH THESE 10 CONTINGENCY PLANNING STEPS
Summer’s extreme temperatures and unpredictable severe weather can result in
equipment or power outages. Being prepared for unexpected building failures can
save you valuable time and...
FEDERAL JUDGE OVERTURNS FRACKING RULES
On June 21, U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl ruled that the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) does not have the authority to create new rules and
regulate hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on...
STAY COOL WHILE AVOIDING THESE COMMON SUMMER PITFALLS
Once your building is summer-ready , it's important to be aware of some common
pitfalls that can keep your building from performing at its most efficient
level...
CHARTING A PATH TO SUMMER SAVINGS
From small improvement projects to large energy strategies, there are steps you
can take to reduce costs during the summer months, transforming your building
into an asset that can make you more profitable...
BEAT THE HEAT – MAKE SURE YOUR BUILDING IS SUMMER-READY
We all know it is coming, but somehow it still sneaks up on us. Summer. It
brings hotter temperatures, severe weather, and greater demand on building
systems and the bottom line. Commercial customers typically pay...
MADE IN THE SHADE — HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE HOTTEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR
Summer brings hotter temperatures — and higher energy bills. Energy costs for
commercial buildings can run up to 35 percent higher in the hottest months of
summer compared to other months of the year...
PJM COMMITTEE ADVANCES ELECTRICITY CAPACITY MARKET PROPOSALS
Last month, the PJM Interconnection's Market Implementation Committee advanced
proposals related to capacity performance, agreeing to add three items to the
list of parameters by which a resource’s schedule might be limited.
U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION CONFIRMS YEAR-OVER-YEAR DROP IN U.S. OIL
PRODUCTION
With the release of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest
Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO) yesterday came finalized figures for December
2015, allowing for balance of the year analysis, and revisions to forecasts.
U.S. EXPORTS FIRST LNG CARGO FROM GULF COAST
Regardless of the ultimate end game for U.S. LNG exports, this week’s shipments
from Sabine Pass represent a noteworthy step in exposing a generally-insulated
domestic market to more international influence.
TRANE IMPROVES SAFETY WITH UPGRADED BUILDING SYSTEMS AT HOPKINS COUNTY JAIL
When Hopkins County Jail discovered outdated gas heat exchangers were at risk of
leaking CO2 into a building with hundreds of inmates, its technicians knew they
needed to take immediate action...
INCREASING EFFICIENCY AND DRIVING INNOVATION AT MERCEDES-BENZ USA
Whether you’re part of a small business, or a multinational corporation, no
business is immune to the effects of an underperforming building comfort system.
When a chiller failed at Mercedes-Benz USA, they turned to Trane, a longtime
partner, to find a permanent, cost-effective solution.
GLYCOL IMPROVES EFFICIENCY, REDUCES MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR RESTAURANT KITCHENS
Advancements in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technology have
given restaurants a powerful system with a dual purpose — chilling refrigeration
appliances while keeping facilities comfortable...
EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLANNING: 7 STEPS HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS MUST FOLLOW
Extreme weather conditions underscore the need for facility teams to prepare for
the worst that nature can throw at their buildings. Given their critical
missions, healthcare and educational organizations must be prepared to respond
quickly and efficiently when a blizzard, flood, tornado, hurricane or other
disaster — natural or man-made — strikes...
HOW THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (YOUR BUILDING) IMPACTS PRODUCTIVITY AND RISK
MANAGEMENT
Managing the built environment has evolved just like every other aspect of our
lives. We expect more than the minimums of code compliance and a roof that
doesn’t leak. Healthy, productive, secure and sustainable — all are words that
apply in today’s facility management world. This post is part two...
TRANSLATING ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND FACILITY MANAGEMENT INTO IMPACTS THAT MATTER
Buildings impact business results. Or, perhaps better said, the environments we
create to work, eat, play, learn, and live in impact the quality, productivity,
quantity, and efficacy of all indoor activities we do in our modern society...
TRANE IMPROVES COMFORT, SAVES COSTS FOR VANCOUVER AREA MALL
When the heat of summer sets in, shoppers seek relief in shopping malls where
they can shop, dine and spend time in air-conditioned comfort. But when indoor
comfort systems aren’t getting the job done, it can impact summertime traffic,
and the bottom line, for mall owners...
TRANE SHEDS LIGHT ON ENERGY SAVINGS WITH INSTALLATION AT ROBINS AFB
For the 78th Civil Engineering Squadron at Robins Air Force Base (AFB), home to
60 military units and the largest industrial complex in Georgia, the poor
lighting levels in its hangars and engine shop was a cause for concern in
regards to safety and convenience...
HOW TRANE HELPED A HIGH SCHOOL CREATE A BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
When heat exchangers on the rooftop units at Murfreesboro School District’s high
school cracked, administrators had to act quickly. Without a budget to
completely finance a repair or upgrade, the district needed to rely on matching
funds from the state...
TRANSFORM YOUR BUILDING’S ENERGY USE WITH THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL
There are three main factors that combine to impact how much money building
owners and operators spend on energy. Think of these factors as three legs of
the same stool — letting any one factor get out of balance will result in an
unstable situation...
Blog
SAVING ENERGY WHILE IMPROVING CAMPUS OPERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA
Higher education institutions face unique challenges when it comes to reducing
energy costs. Colleges and universities often have multiple campuses, each with
numerous buildings that may alternate from full capacity to empty several times
each day. This can create challenges not only for heating and cooling, but
lighting and water resource planning as well...
April 21, 2015
TRANE: DELIVERING A MECHANICAL SYSTEM THAT MEETS LEED CERTIFICATION
Contractors and developers may face various challenges throughout the
construction of a new building. Missed construction milestones and bad weather
delays are a couple of the multitude of issues that a developer must be prepared
to deal with...
HOW TRANE HELPED A LUXURY RESORT UNLOCK $500K IN ANNUAL SAVINGS
(Hint: It has nothing to do with room rates or green fees) Owners at Pacific
Palms Resort in City of Industry, California were at a crossroads. Many of the
resort’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems were original
to the facility...
LEARN HOW TRANE BUILDING ADVANTAGE™ CAN IMPROVE YOUR BUILDING
This week, Trane launched the new Trane Building Advantage brand at the National
Facilities Management and Technology (NFMT) Conference in Baltimore. The brand
represents the suite of energy services...
A WATERSHED MOMENT: REALIZING ENERGY EFFICIENCIES IN WATER TREATMENT
It’s important for municipalities to manage their water treatment facilities
with an eye to efficiency in every phase of the water treatment cycle. Trane, a
known performance leader in the wastewater treatment industry, helped a client
do just that in...
TRANE: KEEPING THE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS ON IN CITY PARKS
In Vestavia Hills, Ala., a suburb outside of Birmingham, city leaders knew that
the cost to illuminate their sports fields, pools and tennis courts wasted
budget dollars. Light fixtures were greater than 30 years old — so old, in
fact...
HOW TRANE SOLUTIONS MAINTAIN COST-EFFICIENT HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
For Hardin Medical Center in western Tennessee, an outdated HVAC system affected
its ability to create an optimal environment of care, especially in the critical
labor and delivery areas. Read how Trane helped update its HVAC system.
WHY TRANE LEVERAGES PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION
With continued variability in temperatures throughout the year, increasing
energy efficiency becomes a top priority for organizations across many markets,
including the government...
TEACHING THE VALUE OF SUSTAINABILITY
At Trane, we think it’s important to enhance sustainability education among the
upcoming generation of FMs. A recommendation by the Center for Green Schools at
USGBC and Houghton Mifflin Marcourt (HMH) advocates for just that...
ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY: KEY FACTORS TO STAYING COMPETITIVE
Research results from Ecova predict that 2014 will be a challenging year for
those responsible for managing energy resources. According to the research, 2014
will be the year that forces companies to take steps to improve results and
build...
REVISED STANDARDS MAY IMPACT BUILDING ENERGY MEASUREMENT
According to a ACHR article, ASHRAE’s latest revision to its Standard 105-2014
spells good news for the number crunchers among us as it creates a common basis
in reporting performance data for...
WHY YOU SHOULD USE ENERGY MODELING TOOLS
In today’s cost-sensitive market, building and facility managers are proactively
seeking solutions to help control costs while improving building efficiency.
They all want to know, “How do I get more for less?” I aimed to answer this
question in my presentation...
2014 COULD BE EVEN BETTER THAN 2013 FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
This year promises to be another strong one for energy efficiency. For example,
several actions included in Climate Action Plan will take place in 2014, such as
the release of draft CO2 emissions standards for existing power plants. We think
these measures are taking us...
TECH TIP: MANAGE BUILDINGS EFFECTIVELY IN EXTREME WEATHER
Web-based tools can help building managers optimize building operation to meet
tenant needs and energy consumption goals, utilizing alarm functions that alert
the property manager if temperatures fall outside of desired levels...
HOW TRANE IS HELPING CUSTOMERS REALIZE MORE EFFICIENT BUILDINGS IN 2014
In February, Trane featured a post highlighting Hammer & Hand’s top 10
predictions for the high performance building industry in 2014. Today, we offer
thoughts on these predictions and how our company and solutions fit into
forecasted trends...
MUSÉE D’ORSAY SAVES ENERGY, ENSURES LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY WITH TRANE
When working with historic buildings, one of the unique challenges we face is
upgrading building infrastructure systems without disturbing the unique
architecture or the priceless and irreplaceable artifacts within.
U.S. GOVERNMENT MOVES TO RAMP UP COMMERCIAL BUILDING EFFICIENCY
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill designed to ramp up
efficiency in commercial buildings and data centers known as the “Energy
Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014.”
HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY DEFINE SUSTAINABILITY?
Green construction is expected to increase along with overall construction
activity in 2014. Despite market pressures, or perhaps because of them,
companies and building owners are emphasizing sustainability measures that lead
to greater building efficiency, lower costs and a more productive workforce.
Blog
HOW ENERGY MODELLING TOOLS CAN CREATE EFFICIENT HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS
An inside look at why it is important to engage in modelling before you make
retrofit decisions, including financial factors to consider and how to use
energy modelling to predict results
March 06, 2014
WHAT'S NEXT FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS?
Green builder Hammer & Hand recently released its ten predictions for the US
high performance building industry in 2014. To no surprise, the predictions
cover a wide-range of variables, including the impact of new products entering
the market, procedural and policy shifts that focus on performance-based
measures, and the international energy efficiency movement’s effect on the US
market.
IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS WHILE PRESERVING THEIR UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS
More than 1.4 million places – including buildings, districts and landmarks –
are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which receives more than
30,000 applications each year. Most are at least 50 years old and meet one or
more of the following four criteria for historic status: recognized as the site
of an historic event, associated with a famous person, designed or built in a
distinctive way, or yielded important historic or prehistoric information.
HOW BUILDING OWNERS CAN FIND THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Energy efficiency is a journey, and the sooner started the better. Waiting for
the next generation of technology sacrifices a significant net present value
opportunity, and can also lead to the paralysis of...
SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION - BRINGING NEW LIFE TO OLD INSTITUTIONS
[AUTHOR: RICH PENNER]
When most people hear the word “sustainability” they think of consumer products,
like post-consumer paper cup`s from a local coffee shop. It’s harder to get
people to understand how sustainability applies to our infrastructure, like the
buildings in which we all live, work, learn and play.
DATA CENTERS, WAREHOUSES, AND OTHERS IMPACTED BY NEWEST VERSION OF LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched the newest version of the LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Program, LEED v4,
at the Greenbuild International Conference on November 20, 2013 in Philadelphia.
GET YOUR DUCTS IN A ROW TO UNLOCK HIDDEN ENERGY SAVINGS POTENTIAL
Is there money hidden in your building’s heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC) system? One often overlooked cost savings opportunity may be
lurking in your ducts if your building uses a traditional...
GREEN BUILDING CONGRESS SETS CONSTRUCTION GOAL FOR INDIA BUILDINGS – WHAT WILL
IT TAKE TO GET THERE? [AUTHOR: NEIL MALDEIS]
There is a huge opportunity to expand the number of green buildings in India,
which currently make up less than five percent of the market, according to
recent discussions at the 2013 Green Building Congress...
ENERGY EFFICIENCY’S ECONOMIC IMPACT MAY SURPRISE YOU
The role of energy efficiency in our daily lives is a complicated one, according
to an article from Greentech Media.
A TALE OF TWO BUILDINGS [AUTHOR: NEIL MADEIS]
A recent Washington Post story noted how green construction has become a common
trend for new office buildings, with one-third of all new office space completed
in 2011 being designated “green.” But beyond the...
Blog
INDUSTRIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS KEY TO GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS
The BlueGreen Alliance, a partnership between labor unions and environmental
organizations, recently released a new policy report on industrial energy
efficiency. It notes that America’s manufacturing sector – the world’s largest –
can keep its lead by taking advantage of the huge opportunities to increase
energy efficiencies, cut waste and save on operating costs.
October 23, 2013
WINDY CITY MAKES BUILDING OWNERS PROVE ENERGY SAVINGS CLAIMS AREN'T BLOWING
SMOKE
Although several U.S. cities have energy efficiency requirements for large
commercial and residential buildings, Chicago has become the first one to
mandate the verification of building energy data.
THE REAL DRIVERS OF HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS
There has been a lot of discussion in the industry lately about the factors that
are really driving how people are thinking about high performance buildings.
DON'T LET RISING COSTS OF BUILDING MATERIALS CUT SHORT YOUR HIGH PERFORMANCE
BUILDINGS JOURNEY
According to a study by Navigant Research, the worldwide market for green
construction materials will more than double in the next seven years to more
than $250 billion by 2020. Just how this impending spike in demand will impact
the cost of green construction is difficult to predict, but it's safe to say
that construction costs will increase for projects that involve these materials.
IS THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY RESISTING LIFECYCLE COST DECISION METRICS?
A recent Environmental Leader article claims that decision-makers at many
organizations are faced with budgetary restrictions that often hinder the
adoption of the best suited technology or project, even when the better solution
will cost less over the long haul.
TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS WILL DRIVE INCREASED BUILDING EFFICIENCY
A recent GreenBiz.com article highlights a report by Navigant Research that says
the global smart grid market will more than double by 2020. We’re not surprised
to read this, as we’ve long said that when it comes to satisfying the world’s
almost insatiable appetite for energy, "nothing beats energy efficiency." Smart
technology is at the heart of today's greatest advancements in building energy
efficiency.
WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR BUSINESS, WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR
THE LITTLE GUYS?
Are small and mid-sized businesses being left out of the global race to improve
energy efficiency? That’s the argument made by a recent article by Greentech
Media.
BENCHMARKING CAN REVEAL SURPRISING RESULTS
We’ve discussed the critical importance of evaluating high performance buildings
often on this blog (for example, here and here), and a recent article from
Greentech Media highlights this again. In short, it’s never enough to simply cut
the ribbon on a high performance building and pat ourselves on the back.
Continuously evaluating and benchmarking against business goals is the only way
we will continue to strengthen our technology, the buildings we support and the
industry as a whole.
Blog
10 CONCEPTS TO TAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO NEW HEIGHTS
The global drive to improve energy efficiency, manage overhead costs, and reduce
environmental impact has given facility managers in most organizations a seat at
the table—or at least the attention of top management. Buildings are
organizational assets, after all, and organizations need to achieve an
acceptable return on their enormous investment in facilities.
June 07, 2013
A COLLECTIVE APPROACH TO INCREASE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING ADOPTIONS
The research firm Frost & Sullivan recently noted the changes and evolution of
the high performance building industry in the last several years, driven in
large part by the growing IT influence on physical systems and the recession’s
financial pressures, have sped up the development and adoption of many
efficiency technologies.
TRANE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING PROFILED IN CASE STUDY
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an international nonprofit
environmental organization, has released a case study of the energy savings of
Godrej Bhavan building in Mumbai, India. Trane was a significant partner in the
upgrades and transformation of this high performance building, including
manufacturing and installing the HVAC and building management system with
digital energy meters that continuously monitor and adjust energy use.
TRANE EXPERTS TALK ABOUT THE 'NEXT BIG THING' IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN
SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES ARTICLE
Can ‘the Next Big Thing’ Wait? In a recent article published in Sustainable
Industries, Ingersoll Rand and Trane experts Randy Newton and Matt Gates analyze
today’s business trends to talk about how emerging technologies, as well as the
basics of energy efficiency, can have a significant impact on individual
building performance as well as the overall global demand for energy.
SWEAT THE SMALL THINGS; THEY MAY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE
We often think about high performance building construction or retrofits as
large, multi-month or multi–year projects. But it’s important not to overlook
the small things that may end up making a huge difference in the performance of
your building and the health of your occupants.
SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENTS OF HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS: WHAT THE NUMBERS DON’T
TELL YOU
When measuring the performance of a building, whether new or retrofitted, it’s
easy to get caught up in the metrics: the speeds, the volumes, the percentages,
the of lengths time…the list goes on and on. But what many of us forget is the
importance of subjective assessments when evaluating the operations of our high
performance building (HPB).
ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES: JUSTIFYING INVESTMENT WITH A HOLISTIC APPROACH
In Part 1 of our series, we examined how commercial building managers can create
a strong business case for investment in energy conservations measures (ECMs) as
part of their high performance building journey. In this piece, we will look
further into the strategies and tools for justifying the up-front costs using a
holistic approach that includes tangible and intangible benefits.
ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES: MAKING THE BUSINESS CASE BEFORE AND AFTER
Energy conservation measures (ECMs) in commercial buildings can range from CFL
lighting to the installation of a maximum efficiency HVAC system, but they
typically fall into the categories of water, electricity or gas. When
considering ECM investments, building managers must weigh the upfront costs of
the investment with the energy and financial savings, and make the argument to
leadership as to why the investment is worth precious capital dollars in the
journey to becoming a high performance building.
UPPING THE ANTE ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
An office is building in Seattle is taking the concept of sustainable building
to a whole new level: Think LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
certification on steroids.
TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING: THE BALANCE BETWEEN BUILDING ENVELOPE AND OCCUPANCY
COMFORT
A building envelope is the outer shell of the building that is used to help
maintain the indoor environment and control its climate. There’s been a lot of
discussion in the high performance building industry about how to leverage this
component efficiently and how to manage any trade-offs with occupant comfort, so
I read with interest this article from Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine
about testing and commissioning best practices.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM 100 YEARS OF BUILDING INNOVATIONS - PART 2: OPPORTUNITIES
ABOUND TODAY IN EXISTING BUILDINGS
In the last post we talked about how modern technologies and building practices
are boosting building performance. But with construction starts remaining low,
the real opportunity to unlock energy savings potential lies within the current
building inventory. In this post we’re expanding on the energy saving
opportunities with existing buildings.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM 100 YEARS OF BUILDING INNOVATIONS – PART 1: THE FUTURE OF
BUILDING PERFORMANCE
Sustainable technologies like wind and solar get a lot of press coverage, but
when it comes to satisfying the world’s almost insatiable appetite for energy
nothing today beats energy efficiency.
LOWER COSTS, MORE BENEFITS: GREEN BUILDING MARKET IS GROWING UP
The World Green Building Council (WGBC) released a report this month that found
the cost of constructing a green building is typically on par with a
conventional one.
EVALUATING THE JOURNEY OF A HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING
The construction or retrofit of a high performance building is exciting: The new
technology, the gadgets, the occupant buzz and the eventual launch can all make
for a very dramatic affair. But what’s less sexy – and no less important – is
what happens afterwards.
FROM START UP TO COOL DOWN, INTELLIPAK™ I CAN HELP ACHIEVE HIGH PERFORMANCE
BUILDING GOALS
Although the International Air-Conditioning Heating Refrigeration (AHR) Expo was
held in January, concerns about optimizing a building’s cooling system didn’t go
away with the winter temperatures. Many expo attendees wanted to hear more about
the efficiency tools that could help them achieve a high performance building
year-round. I was especially excited to talk with them about the latest,
ultra-efficient cooling system from Trane: The IntelliPak™ I Unitary Rooftop
System.
INTELLIGENT VARIABLE AIR SYSTEMS DELIVER 20 TO 30 PERCENT BETTER ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
I recently returned from the 2013 International Air-Conditioning, Heating,
Refrigeration (AHR) Expo in Dallas, where there was tremendous interest in Trane
energy efficiency solutions. In fact, according to HPAC Engineering Magazine,
the Trane booth was one of "the most talked about and most visited booths at the
event."
TRANE LAUNCHES ITS SECOND CENTURY WITH NEW INNOVATIONS
Trane celebrated 100 years of innovation at the 2013 International
Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration (AHR) Expo in Dallas recently. At the
show we presented and demonstrated several new forward-thinking building
solutions that create comfortable, efficient and productive environments to
benefit industries like healthcare, education, retail, data centers and others.
HOW INTESA SANPAOLO CUT ITS “INVISIBLE” INEFFICIENCIES
Sometimes the most important energy problems are ones we can’t see. Unlike
pollution streaming from a power plant or exhaust billowing from a car’s
tailpipe, other forms of pollution and waste are not so easy to spot.
HOW HVAC TECHNOLOGIES HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD OF INFECTION (PART 2OF 2)
The Center for Health Design (CHD) estimates that as many as 30 percent of
hospital infection threats are airborne and numerous cases of MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and other types of infections have
been traced directly to problems with ductwork, ventilation controls, air
exchange ratios and room pressure balance.
IMPROVING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT TO MAXIMIZE INFECTION CONTROL (PART 1 OF 2)
Reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) is a priority for
everyone connected with the healthcare industry. The reasons are obvious.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, improving HAI
rates by 40 percent from a 2010 baseline would save more than 60,000 lives and
prevent 1.8 million patient injuries by 2013.
TRANE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING SOLUTIONS DRIVE EFFICIENCY AND SAVINGS FOR THE
UNIQUE NEEDS OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Financial institutions handle critical data every day – data that requires
specialized environments to ensure that information is processed without
interruption. If a data center goes down for even 15 minutes, an organization
could lose millions of dollars in information. Data centers have significant and
specialized cooling needs in order to handle the heat loads associated with
computational processes. Hot spots and inadequate cooling can cause costly
disruptions and are daily concerns.
INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENTS AT REPUBLIC PLAZA TO RESULT IN ENERGY SAVINGS OF
S$870,000 ANNUALLY
Infrastructure upgrades at the Republic Plaza building, one of Singapore’s
tallest skyscrapers, have made it one of the most efficient buildings in
Singapore. The anticipated energy savings are estimated at four million
kilowatt-hour of energy, or an annual savings of S$870,000. This is equivalent
to powering 1,300 four-room apartments annually. The 66-story, 280-meter high
Republic Plaza is a Grade A office building located at Raffles Place in the
heart of Singapore’s Central Business District.
UPGRADES AT OLD COLONY REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL CUT ENERGY
CONSUMPTION BY MORE THAN 50 PERCENT
Old Colony is a regional vocational technical high school offering a broad range
of vocational careers for students in the Rochester, Mass., area. Energy
efficient infrastructure upgrades at Old Colony have reduced energy consumption
by more than 50 percent while improving the learning and teaching environment.
An ongoing service and maintenance program helps ensure that all systems
continue to run at optimum levels.
TRANE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING SOLUTIONS FOR FOOD MANUFACTURERS DELIVER BOTTOM
LINE SAVINGS AND SOLUTIONS TO UNIQUE ENERGY NEEDS
The primary concern for food manufacturers is meeting or exceeding customer
expectations by ensuring the consistency and quality of their product. This
approach helps shape how these manufacturers view their building systems and
manufacturing processes as well.
K. RAHEJA CORP. IN MUMBAI DRIVES ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE CONSTRUCTION
As the global demand for energy continues to rise, real estate developers are
increasingly called upon to build more energy efficient structures that cost
less to operate and have minimal environmental impact. One Trane customer that
is raising the bar on green buildings is the K. Raheja Corp. in Mumbai.
POST HURRICANE SANDY - TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR BUILDINGS AFFECTED BY THE STORMS
Hurricane Sandy and the Nor’easter that followed a week later left a swath of
destruction and a soggy mess in their wake. With the storms behind them, owners
and operators of tens of thousands of commercial buildings – including office
buildings, schools, hospitals, malls and factories – face the cleanup and
remediation challenge of a lifetime. They need to get their buildings up and
running quickly, but they also need to make sure that they are restoring a safe,
healthy and comfortable indoor environment for building occupants and visitors.
BAXTER MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN SABIÑANIGO SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERS ENERGY USE AND
IMPROVES COMFORT
Baxter International Inc., is a diversified healthcare company that develops,
manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with
hemophilia, immune disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, kidney disease,
trauma and other chronic and acute medical conditions.
WHY BENCHMARKING MATTERS
If someone told you that they had a service used by 267,000 buildings comprising
40 percent of the non-residential market in the United States you’d be pretty
amazed right?
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AT INTESA SANPAOLO DATA CENTER IN PARMA, ITALY,
INCREASE OPERATIONAL AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Long gone are the days of paper deposit books and hand written banking records,
replaced instead by high-tech computerized data centers which make data readily
available to allow banks to move at the speed of today's global business
environment. While data centers have revolutionized the way businesses store and
access information, the data servers themselves often consume a tremendous
amount of energy.
FERRERO MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN BELSK, POLAND INCREASES ENERGY AND OPERATIONAL
EFFICIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY AND COMFORT
Ferrero may be best known for delicious chocolate creations wrapped in gold
foil, but the global confectionary company is setting an industry “gold
standard” at its Belsk, Poland manufacturing plant by embracing environmentally
responsible, energy-efficient systems.
HOW HEALTHCARE IS DRIVEN TOWARDS HIGH PERFORMANCE
We often focus on high performance from the perspective of building systems, but
rarely do we get the opportunity to learn about “high performance" as seen
through the eyes of a vertical industry.
CAN A SERVICE COMPANY PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE BY COMING OUT TO YOUR BUILDING
LESS?
If you asked 100 building managers to define good customer service from the
technician's that service their building's systems and equipment, the top
answers would likely include responsive, knowledgeable and reliable. For many
building managers, the mere presence of a technician on sight is enough to
instill comfort that building's systems are being brought up to, and kept in,
good service.
A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO RUNNING BUILDING SYSTEMS 24-7
A lot of buildings today run 24-7, even though they are unoccupied at night. But
with energy costs making up a significant portion of operating costs, it makes
sense for building operators to consider alternatives.
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS INSIGHTS: HOTELS
Occupancy rates in hotels vary greatly, requiring a heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC) system that can adapt to those types of changes while still
providing an absolutely comfortable environment for guests.
HISTORIC NEW YORK CITY CENTER KEEPS PATRONS AND PERFORMERS COMFORTABLE WITH HELP
FROM TRANE
The historic New York City Center is a 2,750 capacity dance theater in New York
City. The 12-story building has been owned by the City of New York since 1943,
when Mayor LaGuardia saved the building from being demolished for a parking lot
and turned it into a performing arts center.
INTELLIGENT SERVICES ENABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS
It is impossible to overstate the importance of developing and implementing
effective operating, service and maintenance strategies required to sustain a
new building’s original design performance expectations over its decades-long
occupied life. In fact, according to the National Institute of Building Sciences
(NIBS), operating and maintenance costs account for 65-80 percent of a typical
commercial building’s total lifecycle costs.
TRANE PUTS MUNICIPAL SQUARE ON THE PATH TO HIGH PERFORMANCE
Municipal Square is a five story commercial office building in West Orange, N.J.
The building has more than 100,000 square feet of office space, occupied by 35
tenants, including law firms, architects, accountants and other professional
service businesses.
INTELLIGENT SERVICE DELIVERS PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES FOR HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
In the last post we discussesd how technology and access to data gives building
operators the tools they need to improve operations by performing maintenance
when it is needed, rather than simply following a predetermined maintenance
interval.
USING TECHNOLOGY TO HELP FACILITY MANAGERS MAXIMIZE BUDGETS
The combined effects of a sluggish economic recovery, high energy prices and
changing environmental requirements continue to put pressure on owners and
operators of high rise buildings. Facilities teams are constantly looking for
ways to save energy, reduce operating costs, improve reliability and shrink
their environmental footprint, while also creating a comfortable, healthy and
productive place for people who work, live or visit in their buildings.
SMART ORGANIZATIONS TRANSFORM BUILDINGS FROM BURDENSOME LIABILITIES INTO
BUSINESS-ESSENTIAL, HIGH-PERFORMING ASSETS
Smart organizations transform buildings from burdensome liabilities into
business-essential, high-performing assets. This statement might seem simple on
its surface, but the idea gets at the heart of what the high performance
buildings approach is all about. For building owners who grasp this concept, the
reward is a building that reinforces, rather than detracts from, the
organizational mission.
TRANE HELPS EDMONDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACHIEVE MORE THAN $330K IN ANNUAL ENERGY
AND OPERATIONAL SAVINGS
Founded in 1967, Edmonds Community College (EdCC) helps students access
educational and career opportunities in a supportive environment that encourages
success, innovation, service and lifelong learning. The college spans 50 acres
in the heart of a northern Seattle suburb and employs more than 1,600 people,
contributing to the vitality of state and local economies. Edmonds has 21,000
students enrolled in Associate’s Degree programs, career training, adult
literacy, or continuing education classes.
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS SPOTLIGHT: TRANE PERFORMANCE CONTRACT SAVES OHIO
SCHOOL DISTRICT $900,000 PER YEAR
Located in southwestern Ohio, Lakota is the seventh largest school district in
the state, and the largest school district in Butler County. Lakota has grown in
the last 20 years from a rural district to a suburban district with more than
18,000 students.
LEADERS AT THREE RIVERS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ANTICIPATE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES
WILL REDUCE ENERGY COSTS MORE THAN 30 PERCENT
Three Rivers Community recently completed infrastructure upgrades that district
leaders anticipate will cut energy costs by more than 30 percent and save more
than $197,000 in annual energy and operational costs. The upgrades were made to
reduce costs while improving the learning environment within classrooms and
increasing sustainability district-wide.
TRANE INTELLIGENT SERVICES PROVIDES RELIEF IN THE CLUTCH FOR TULSA DRILLERS
BASEBALL FRANCHISE
As a minor league farm club for the Colorado Rockies, the Tulsa Drillers
understand the importance of performing in the clutch. In professional sports,
game time performance is critical, and the same goes for its stadium's heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
TRANE INTELLIGENT SERVICES: ENHANCING BUILDING MISSION
Every building operator has a set of expectations and a budget to manage. With
Trane Intelligent Services (TIS), Trane is able to offer performance
enhancements to meet any building’s specific requirements through advanced
automation strategies called Alarm Notification, Active Monitoring and Building
Performance.
TRANE INTELLIGENT SERVICES: DRIVING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
In business, access to the right information is the key to good decision making.
As the world becomes increasingly networked and interconnected, the pace of
business also increases, making timely access to information more important than
ever.
CLAYTON COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS POSITIVELY IMPACT COUNTY BUDGET
As local governments look for ways to cut costs and save money, one suburban
Atlanta county turned an investment in energy efficiency into six-figure annual
savings.
MAINTAINING UPTIME WHILE IMPROVING INDOOR COMFORT WAS THE KEY FOR GODREJ BHAVEN
IN MUMBAI
From high tech engineering to consumer goods, Godrej is one of India’s largest
industrial conglomerates. Recently the company decided to implement a more
energy efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) solution in
its Godrej Bhavan facility in Mumbai, India as part of the company's focus on
creating carbon neutral, zero waste, water positive and energy efficient
businesses.
ENERGY SAVING CONTROL STRATEGIES CONTINUED: PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND
RECOMMISSIONING
In the last post I talked about how a building control strategy works in tandem
with a building automation system (BAS) to operate a building efficiently and
optimally. In this post I'll talk about the different approaches for new
construction versus existing buildings, and the recommended approaches to
ongoing building maintenance.
BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS AND ENERGY SAVING CONTROL STRATEGIES
Most commercial buildings today have a building automation (BAS) system
installed. While these systems are designed to help a building operator
effectively manage a building's heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
systems, the simple presence of a control system doesn't guarantee good
performance.
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS SOLUTIONS HELP AIRPORT EXPANSION PROJECTS TAKE OFF
Long before the information superhighway made the world more inter-connected,
transportation advancements – trains, automobiles and airplanes – brought people
together and gave them access to new and remote parts of the world.
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS SPOTLIGHT: ROCK CREEK UNIFIED SCHOOLS EXPECTS $154K
ANNUAL SAVINGS FROM ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS
As budgets tighten, school districts across the country are looking for ways to
lower costs. For many districts, the cost savings of investments in energy
efficiency upgrades can be significant enough to help districts avoid cutting
back on staff or reducing school-funded programs to meet budget demands.
MAINTENANCE INNOVATIONS ENABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
It's the situation every building owner wants to avoid –they've invested in new
heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and yet building
performance is suffering.
ENERGY CONSERVATION: HOW A HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING APPROACH SAVES ENERGY AND
MONEY
For years, conservation groups , public utilities and government agencies have
promoted energy conservation as a critical priority for the nation. But energy
conservation doesn’t have to mean uncomfortable conditions for occupants. By
taking a high performance buildings approach, organizations can engage in
conservation efforts while promoting a comfortable, safe and productive
environment for all building occupants.
INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES EXPECTED TO NET CITY OF MARIETTA NEARLY $100K IN ANNUAL
SAVINGS
Nestled just north of Atlanta and just south of the North Georgia Mountains, the
City of Marietta, Ga., offers visitors the charm of a small city along with a
stimulating urban environment. With a beautiful and vibrant downtown square
filled with restaurants and antique shops, the city offers its 56,000 residents
access to beautiful parks, quaint streets, Victorian homes and historic sites.
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS CASE STUDY: CARILION ROANOKE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (CRMH) knew that it had no control over
utility rates, but that it did have control over its energy use. The hospital
sought to identify and implement energy conservation measures (ECMs) to reduce
costs, in alignment with its mission to provide quality patient care as
efficiently as possible.
CALLING ON PARTNERS TO DELIVER THE VISION
In this post we'll discuss the final piece, which is calling on partners to help
deliver the mission.
SETTING OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES, UNDERSTANDING TRADEOFFS AND MEASURING AGAINST
THE MISSION
This week I'll be building off the previous post about defining the building
mission, and will talk about defining the operational priorities for the
building, understanding the potential tradeoffs of efficiency measures, and
measuring performance against the building mission.
IDENTIFYING YOUR BUILDING'S MISSION AND BEGINNING THE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS
JOURNEY
In the previous posts in this series I've talked about how industry visionaries
better align building life cycle performance with organizational objectives, and
the five steps leaders should consider when developing a long-term approach to
improving building performance.
THE 5 KEY STEPS TO ADOPTING A HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS APPROACH
In the previous post I talked a about developing a more effective
decision-making model around system-centric life cycle economics and the need to
look beyond “simple payback” energy economics to a more long-term approach. This
post will take a look at the five key steps that leaders should consider when
developing a long-term approach that reduces operating costs, improves asset
value and supports the long-term mission of the organizations served by their
facilities.
HOW INDUSTRY VISIONARIES BETTER ALIGN BUILDING LIFE CYCLE PERFORMANCE WITH
ORGANIZATIONAL OBJECTIVES
When it comes to improving building performance, it's easy to focus on
short-term objectives and gains, and to gloss over the long-term effects of the
path taken or not. A common short-sighted approach is to focus on individual
component efficiency (chillers, air handlers, etc.) without understanding system
implications of how these pieces integrate efficiently, or how investments in
efficiency upgrades ultimately support the overall organizational mission.
Blog
FIVE WAYS TO BUILD YOUR BRAND IN THE “NEW NORMAL”
Building a strong and differentiated brand matters now, more than ever, as
building owners and managers navigate the challenges of the global health
crisis. Clients are looking for a solid “say” + “do” ratio and commitments from
their partners to listen, and to be transparent and authentic.
August 05, 2020
Blog
NEXT GENERATION LIGHTING ILLUMINATES NEW OPTIONS, SIMPLIFIES HVAC INTEGRATION
Although light-emitting diode (LED) applications have been available for
decades, their use in commercial lighting has rapidly grown in recent years.
While LEDS made up just 13 percent of the market in 2017, according to the
latest LED adoption report produced by the U.S. Department of Energy, in 2035
they are expected to represent 84 percent, according to the same report.
February 26, 2020
Blog
CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, RECOGNIZING AWESOME ACHIEVEMENTS BY TRANE
WOMEN
International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8, provides an
opportunity for countries around the world to recognize women’s contributions to
society and calls for the acceleration of women’s equality. This year’s campaign
theme, #EachforEqual, focuses on the concept that ‘An equal world is an enabled
world’. It encourages each individual to take an active role in helping to
broaden perceptions, promoting gender equality, and celebrating the achievements
of women.
March 06, 2020
Blog
TOP TIPS FOR REMOTE BUILDING MANAGEMENT
As the needs of facilities are rapidly changing during these unprecedented
times, Trane wants its customers to know we're here to help.
March 30, 2020
Blog
TRANE'S ENGINEERS NEWSLETTER LIVE! SUPPORTING DISTANCE LEARNING FOR ENGINEERS
DURING COVID-19
Keep your training and certification current with Trane's Engineers Newsletter
Live! (ENL), a complementary learning program taught by a panel of experienced
and knowledgeable applications engineers.
April 07, 2020
Blog
YOUR CHECKLIST TO OPTIMIZE REMOTE BUILDING MANAGEMENT
The narrative around connected building technology has shifted, at least for the
time being. Efforts around comfort, sustainability and reducing energy costs
through improved building management now include strategies for doing it all
remotely, when uncommon circumstances might make it difficult to work on site.
April 10, 2020
Blog
WHERE ARE THE TRUSTWORTHY COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR THE HVAC/BUILDING INDUSTRY?
The impact of such a pandemic is real and harsh. With most of us juggling
different roles in our life, the question on how we stay safe and productive in
tough times surface to the top. As a good citizen, we should follow the guidance
from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for personal actions. For
many of us serving in the commercial HVAC field, many industry resources have
become available recently.
April 15, 2020
Blog
THE LINK BETWEEN LED LIGHTING AND OBSERVED HEALTH, LEARNING AND PRODUCTIVITY
Use of LED lighting is transforming the role that lighting can play in an
environment. Some LED lighting technology allows for variation in lighting
intensity and color temperature that can help people augment their environment.
May 01, 2020
Blog
TRANE // YOUR PARTNER IN RESILIENCE
There’s an old saying that adversity is a great teacher. If that’s the case, the
current situation is certainly doing a lot of teaching, and we’re all doing our
fair share of learning. It's testing our mettle as individuals and as
organizations. It’s challenging us and pushing our limits in ways we couldn’t
have possibly imagined 6 months ago. But in many ways, it’s also taking us to
new heights.
May 28, 2020
Blog
CONSIDER CREATIVE FINANCING TO TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH IN THE “NEW NORMAL”
Building owners and managers are facing new pressures as we all navigate the
“new normal.” While budget pressure may be higher than ever, there is also a
pressing need to optimize the indoor environment – and progressing so can meet
multiple business objectives.
July 09, 2020
Blog
OPTIMIZING HVAC MAINTENANCE WHEN RUNTIME IS NEVER THE SAME
By integrating work orders with the building automation system (BAS), Trane’s
work order management software makes it easy to order parts and perform
maintenance based on actual equipment run time.
August 12, 2020
Blog
TRANE TRENDS: GROWING THROUGH NEW CHALLENGES
We have all had to change the way we interact with customers and coworkers and
find ways to stay positive during these challenging times. Kasey Connor, Trane’s
Sales Engineer, New England, sees opportunity in the adversity and believes it
may make us all better people in the long run.
August 19, 2020
Blog
RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL: COMMON CHALLENGES FOR OPTIMIZING COMMERCIAL KITCHEN
ENVIRONMENTS
With the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19, restaurant and retail building
facility managers have an even greater opportunity to create and maintain
healthier building management practices. However, maintaining, and in some cases
creating, those practices are pushing facility managers to face new challenges –
especially in commercial kitchens.
August 27, 2020
Blog
EMPOWER YOUR TENANTS TO MATCH SYSTEM OPERATION WITH THEIR EVER-CHANGING
SCHEDULES
Tenants are innovating to facilitate social distancing, and that is causing
headaches for facility managers. Trane streamlines tenant occupancy management,
allowing occupants to change system scheduling by interacting directly with the
building automation system (BAS). This process also optimizes energy use.
September 09, 2020
Blog
TRANE® TRENDS: ADAPTING TO NEW BUILDING PRIORITIES
As we talk to customers today, it’s easy to recognize they’re being asked to
think differently. Our products and services must also morph to meet these new
challenges and opportunities. What used to be a seemingly endless drive towards
energy efficiency is now a balance between indoor air quality and energy
efficiency – and connectivity will play a huge role in achieving this goal. How
will we offset the costs of conditioning this extra outside air?
September 14, 2020
Blog
CONNECTIVITY DRIVES RESULTS FOR CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE
Connectivity can drive significant results for building owners and managers.
After all, connected buildings open the door to better service and technology
for building owners and managers. Insightful data allows for solutions that
improve a building’s performance — including decreasing greenhouse gas
emissions, increasing energy savings, and helping building owners make the right
decisions for both their facilities and the planet.
September 22, 2020
Blog
TRANE TRENDS: WORK-FROM-HOME SOLUTIONS FOR PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY AND TEAM
COLLABORATION
Working outside the confines of a professional, well-designed office space can
be chaotic for an engineer (or anyone) who thrives on process and organization.
While working remotely from home, Ken Durham, Trane’s Regional Operational
Excellence Leader for the Pacific Southwest, took steps to restore his sense of
order, and his advice can help anyone do the same.
October 01, 2020
Blog
MOVE IAQ PROJECTS FORWARD FASTER WITH NEW TRANE FINANCING
Qualified districts may be able to complete IAQ projects immediately by bundling
the cost of an IAQ Assessment, pertinent solutions and even ongoing service into
one convenient financing solution, provided by Trane.
October 19, 2020
Blog
5 REASONS ENGINEERS SHOULD CONSIDER AN INTEGRATED VRF SYSTEM WITH TRACER® SC+
CONTROLS
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are soaring in popularity throughout the
HVAC industry thanks to their ability to offer contractors and engineers the
freedom to design and install systems tailored to customers’ specific needs. The
experts at Trane have taken these benefits a step further by integrating the
Tracer® SC+ controls platform with the Trane® / Mitsubishi Electric N-Gen CITY
MULTI® series, creating a fully integrated VRF system.
October 06, 2020
Blog
OPTIMIZE YOUR RESTAURANT ENVIRONMENT WITH CONFIDENCE
While masking, surface cleaning and social distancing can help mitigate
potential virus spread, considering other measures can help restauranteurs
reduce potential spread of certain airborne virus in a restaurant environment.
September 23, 2020
Blog
NORTHEAST GAS PIPELINE SHORTAGES IMPACT PRICING AND CLEAN ENERGY GOALS
Despite not producing any themselves, the six states in New England have surged
their reliance on natural gas-fired electricity generation. ISO New England now
receives approximately 50% of its power generation from natural gas, versus
10-15% a decade ago.
March 07, 2018
Blog
HOW BUILDING OWNERS CAN FIND THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Energy efficiency is a journey, and the sooner started the better. Waiting for
the next generation of technology sacrifices a significant net present value
opportunity, and can also lead to the paralysis of...
January 02, 2014
Blog
SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION - BRINGING NEW LIFE TO OLD INSTITUTIONS
[AUTHOR: RICH PENNER]
When most people hear the word “sustainability” they think of consumer products,
like post-consumer paper cup`s from a local coffee shop. It’s harder to get
people to understand how sustainability applies to our infrastructure, like the
buildings in which we all live, work, learn and play.
December 26, 2013
Blog
DATA CENTERS, WAREHOUSES, AND OTHERS IMPACTED BY NEWEST VERSION OF LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched the newest version of the LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Program, LEED v4,
at the Greenbuild International Conference on November 20, 2013 in Philadelphia.
December 20, 2013
Blog
GET YOUR DUCTS IN A ROW TO UNLOCK HIDDEN ENERGY SAVINGS POTENTIAL
Is there money hidden in your building’s heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC) system? One often overlooked cost savings opportunity may be
lurking in your ducts if your building uses a traditional...
November 25, 2013
Blog
GREEN BUILDING CONGRESS SETS CONSTRUCTION GOAL FOR INDIA BUILDINGS – WHAT WILL
IT TAKE TO GET THERE? [AUTHOR: NEIL MALDEIS]
There is a huge opportunity to expand the number of green buildings in India,
which currently make up less than five percent of the market, according to
recent discussions at the 2013 Green Building Congress...
November 21, 2013
Blog
ENERGY EFFICIENCY’S ECONOMIC IMPACT MAY SURPRISE YOU
The role of energy efficiency in our daily lives is a complicated one, according
to an article from Greentech Media.
November 07, 2013
Blog
A TALE OF TWO BUILDINGS [AUTHOR: NEIL MADEIS]
A recent Washington Post story noted how green construction has become a common
trend for new office buildings, with one-third of all new office space completed
in 2011 being designated “green.” But beyond the...
October 31, 2013
Blog
INDUSTRIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS KEY TO GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS
The BlueGreen Alliance, a partnership between labor unions and environmental
organizations, recently released a new policy report on industrial energy
efficiency. It notes that America’s manufacturing sector – the world’s largest –
can keep its lead by taking advantage of the huge opportunities to increase
energy efficiencies, cut waste and save on operating costs.
October 23, 2013
Blog
WINDY CITY MAKES BUILDING OWNERS PROVE ENERGY SAVINGS CLAIMS AREN'T BLOWING
SMOKE
Although several U.S. cities have energy efficiency requirements for large
commercial and residential buildings, Chicago has become the first one to
mandate the verification of building energy data.
October 17, 2013
Blog
THE REAL DRIVERS OF HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS
There has been a lot of discussion in the industry lately about the factors that
are really driving how people are thinking about high performance buildings.
October 11, 2013
Blog
DON'T LET RISING COSTS OF BUILDING MATERIALS CUT SHORT YOUR HIGH PERFORMANCE
BUILDINGS JOURNEY
According to a study by Navigant Research, the worldwide market for green
construction materials will more than double in the next seven years to more
than $250 billion by 2020. Just how this impending spike in demand will impact
the cost of green construction is difficult to predict, but it's safe to say
that construction costs will increase for projects that involve these materials.
September 25, 2013
Blog
IS THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY RESISTING LIFECYCLE COST DECISION METRICS?
A recent Environmental Leader article claims that decision-makers at many
organizations are faced with budgetary restrictions that often hinder the
adoption of the best suited technology or project, even when the better solution
will cost less over the long haul.
September 09, 2013
Blog
TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS WILL DRIVE INCREASED BUILDING EFFICIENCY
A recent GreenBiz.com article highlights a report by Navigant Research that says
the global smart grid market will more than double by 2020. We’re not surprised
to read this, as we’ve long said that when it comes to satisfying the world’s
almost insatiable appetite for energy, "nothing beats energy efficiency." Smart
technology is at the heart of today's greatest advancements in building energy
efficiency.
July 01, 2013
Blog
WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR BUSINESS, WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR
THE LITTLE GUYS?
Are small and mid-sized businesses being left out of the global race to improve
energy efficiency? That’s the argument made by a recent article by Greentech
Media.
June 24, 2013
Blog
10 CONCEPTS TO TAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO NEW HEIGHTS
The global drive to improve energy efficiency, manage overhead costs, and reduce
environmental impact has given facility managers in most organizations a seat at
the table—or at least the attention of top management. Buildings are
organizational assets, after all, and organizations need to achieve an
acceptable return on their enormous investment in facilities.
June 07, 2013
Blog
BENCHMARKING CAN REVEAL SURPRISING RESULTS
We’ve discussed the critical importance of evaluating high performance buildings
often on this blog (for example, here and here), and a recent article from
Greentech Media highlights this again. In short, it’s never enough to simply cut
the ribbon on a high performance building and pat ourselves on the back.
Continuously evaluating and benchmarking against business goals is the only way
we will continue to strengthen our technology, the buildings we support and the
industry as a whole.
June 11, 2013
Blog
A COLLECTIVE APPROACH TO INCREASE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING ADOPTIONS
The research firm Frost & Sullivan recently noted the changes and evolution of
the high performance building industry in the last several years, driven in
large part by the growing IT influence on physical systems and the recession’s
financial pressures, have sped up the development and adoption of many
efficiency technologies.
June 05, 2013
Blog
TRANE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING PROFILED IN CASE STUDY
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an international nonprofit
environmental organization, has released a case study of the energy savings of
Godrej Bhavan building in Mumbai, India. Trane was a significant partner in the
upgrades and transformation of this high performance building, including
manufacturing and installing the HVAC and building management system with
digital energy meters that continuously monitor and adjust energy use.
May 29, 2013
Blog
TRANE EXPERTS TALK ABOUT THE 'NEXT BIG THING' IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN
SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES ARTICLE
Can ‘the Next Big Thing’ Wait? In a recent article published in Sustainable
Industries, Ingersoll Rand and Trane experts Randy Newton and Matt Gates analyze
today’s business trends to talk about how emerging technologies, as well as the
basics of energy efficiency, can have a significant impact on individual
building performance as well as the overall global demand for energy.
May 22, 2013
Blog
SWEAT THE SMALL THINGS; THEY MAY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE
We often think about high performance building construction or retrofits as
large, multi-month or multi–year projects. But it’s important not to overlook
the small things that may end up making a huge difference in the performance of
your building and the health of your occupants.
May 13, 2013
Blog
SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENTS OF HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS: WHAT THE NUMBERS DON’T
TELL YOU
When measuring the performance of a building, whether new or retrofitted, it’s
easy to get caught up in the metrics: the speeds, the volumes, the percentages,
the of lengths time…the list goes on and on. But what many of us forget is the
importance of subjective assessments when evaluating the operations of our high
performance building (HPB).
May 07, 2013
Blog
ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES: JUSTIFYING INVESTMENT WITH A HOLISTIC APPROACH
In Part 1 of our series, we examined how commercial building managers can create
a strong business case for investment in energy conservations measures (ECMs) as
part of their high performance building journey. In this piece, we will look
further into the strategies and tools for justifying the up-front costs using a
holistic approach that includes tangible and intangible benefits.
April 30, 2013
Blog
ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES: MAKING THE BUSINESS CASE BEFORE AND AFTER
Energy conservation measures (ECMs) in commercial buildings can range from CFL
lighting to the installation of a maximum efficiency HVAC system, but they
typically fall into the categories of water, electricity or gas. When
considering ECM investments, building managers must weigh the upfront costs of
the investment with the energy and financial savings, and make the argument to
leadership as to why the investment is worth precious capital dollars in the
journey to becoming a high performance building.
April 22, 2013
Blog
UPPING THE ANTE ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
An office is building in Seattle is taking the concept of sustainable building
to a whole new level: Think LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
certification on steroids.
April 15, 2013
Blog
TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING: THE BALANCE BETWEEN BUILDING ENVELOPE AND OCCUPANCY
COMFORT
A building envelope is the outer shell of the building that is used to help
maintain the indoor environment and control its climate. There’s been a lot of
discussion in the high performance building industry about how to leverage this
component efficiently and how to manage any trade-offs with occupant comfort, so
I read with interest this article from Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine
about testing and commissioning best practices.
April 08, 2013
Blog
LESSONS LEARNED FROM 100 YEARS OF BUILDING INNOVATIONS - PART 2: OPPORTUNITIES
ABOUND TODAY IN EXISTING BUILDINGS
In the last post we talked about how modern technologies and building practices
are boosting building performance. But with construction starts remaining low,
the real opportunity to unlock energy savings potential lies within the current
building inventory. In this post we’re expanding on the energy saving
opportunities with existing buildings.
April 01, 2013
Blog
LESSONS LEARNED FROM 100 YEARS OF BUILDING INNOVATIONS – PART 1: THE FUTURE OF
BUILDING PERFORMANCE
Sustainable technologies like wind and solar get a lot of press coverage, but
when it comes to satisfying the world’s almost insatiable appetite for energy
nothing today beats energy efficiency.
March 25, 2013
Blog
LOWER COSTS, MORE BENEFITS: GREEN BUILDING MARKET IS GROWING UP
The World Green Building Council (WGBC) released a report this month that found
the cost of constructing a green building is typically on par with a
conventional one.
March 18, 2013
Blog
EVALUATING THE JOURNEY OF A HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING
The construction or retrofit of a high performance building is exciting: The new
technology, the gadgets, the occupant buzz and the eventual launch can all make
for a very dramatic affair. But what’s less sexy – and no less important – is
what happens afterwards.
March 12, 2013
Blog
FROM START UP TO COOL DOWN, INTELLIPAK™ I CAN HELP ACHIEVE HIGH PERFORMANCE
BUILDING GOALS
Although the International Air-Conditioning Heating Refrigeration (AHR) Expo was
held in January, concerns about optimizing a building’s cooling system didn’t go
away with the winter temperatures. Many expo attendees wanted to hear more about
the efficiency tools that could help them achieve a high performance building
year-round. I was especially excited to talk with them about the latest,
ultra-efficient cooling system from Trane: The IntelliPak™ I Unitary Rooftop
System.
March 04, 2013
Blog
INTELLIGENT VARIABLE AIR SYSTEMS DELIVER 20 TO 30 PERCENT BETTER ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
I recently returned from the 2013 International Air-Conditioning, Heating,
Refrigeration (AHR) Expo in Dallas, where there was tremendous interest in Trane
energy efficiency solutions. In fact, according to HPAC Engineering Magazine,
the Trane booth was one of "the most talked about and most visited booths at the
event."
February 25, 2013
Blog
TRANE LAUNCHES ITS SECOND CENTURY WITH NEW INNOVATIONS
Trane celebrated 100 years of innovation at the 2013 International
Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration (AHR) Expo in Dallas recently. At the
show we presented and demonstrated several new forward-thinking building
solutions that create comfortable, efficient and productive environments to
benefit industries like healthcare, education, retail, data centers and others.
February 15, 2013
Blog
HOW INTESA SANPAOLO CUT ITS “INVISIBLE” INEFFICIENCIES
Sometimes the most important energy problems are ones we can’t see. Unlike
pollution streaming from a power plant or exhaust billowing from a car’s
tailpipe, other forms of pollution and waste are not so easy to spot.
February 07, 2013
Blog
HOW HVAC TECHNOLOGIES HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD OF INFECTION (PART 2OF 2)
The Center for Health Design (CHD) estimates that as many as 30 percent of
hospital infection threats are airborne and numerous cases of MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and other types of infections have
been traced directly to problems with ductwork, ventilation controls, air
exchange ratios and room pressure balance.
January 30, 2013
Blog
IMPROVING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT TO MAXIMIZE INFECTION CONTROL (PART 1 OF 2)
Reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) is a priority for
everyone connected with the healthcare industry. The reasons are obvious.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, improving HAI
rates by 40 percent from a 2010 baseline would save more than 60,000 lives and
prevent 1.8 million patient injuries by 2013.
January 23, 2013
Blog
IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS WHILE PRESERVING THEIR UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS
More than 1.4 million places – including buildings, districts and landmarks –
are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which receives more than
30,000 applications each year. Most are at least 50 years old and meet one or
more of the following four criteria for historic status: recognized as the site
of an historic event, associated with a famous person, designed or built in a
distinctive way, or yielded important historic or prehistoric information.
January 11, 2014
Blog
TRANE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING SOLUTIONS DRIVE EFFICIENCY AND SAVINGS FOR THE
UNIQUE NEEDS OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Financial institutions handle critical data every day – data that requires
specialized environments to ensure that information is processed without
interruption. If a data center goes down for even 15 minutes, an organization
could lose millions of dollars in information. Data centers have significant and
specialized cooling needs in order to handle the heat loads associated with
computational processes. Hot spots and inadequate cooling can cause costly
disruptions and are daily concerns.
January 04, 2013
Blog
INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENTS AT REPUBLIC PLAZA TO RESULT IN ENERGY SAVINGS OF
S$870,000 ANNUALLY
Infrastructure upgrades at the Republic Plaza building, one of Singapore’s
tallest skyscrapers, have made it one of the most efficient buildings in
Singapore. The anticipated energy savings are estimated at four million
kilowatt-hour of energy, or an annual savings of S$870,000. This is equivalent
to powering 1,300 four-room apartments annually. The 66-story, 280-meter high
Republic Plaza is a Grade A office building located at Raffles Place in the
heart of Singapore’s Central Business District.
December 27, 2012
Blog
UPGRADES AT OLD COLONY REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL CUT ENERGY
CONSUMPTION BY MORE THAN 50 PERCENT
Old Colony is a regional vocational technical high school offering a broad range
of vocational careers for students in the Rochester, Mass., area. Energy
efficient infrastructure upgrades at Old Colony have reduced energy consumption
by more than 50 percent while improving the learning and teaching environment.
An ongoing service and maintenance program helps ensure that all systems
continue to run at optimum levels.
December 20, 2012
Blog
TRANE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING SOLUTIONS FOR FOOD MANUFACTURERS DELIVER BOTTOM
LINE SAVINGS AND SOLUTIONS TO UNIQUE ENERGY NEEDS
The primary concern for food manufacturers is meeting or exceeding customer
expectations by ensuring the consistency and quality of their product. This
approach helps shape how these manufacturers view their building systems and
manufacturing processes as well.
December 13, 2012
Blog
K. RAHEJA CORP. IN MUMBAI DRIVES ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE CONSTRUCTION
As the global demand for energy continues to rise, real estate developers are
increasingly called upon to build more energy efficient structures that cost
less to operate and have minimal environmental impact. One Trane customer that
is raising the bar on green buildings is the K. Raheja Corp. in Mumbai.
December 06, 2012
Blog
POST HURRICANE SANDY - TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR BUILDINGS AFFECTED BY THE STORMS
Hurricane Sandy and the Nor’easter that followed a week later left a swath of
destruction and a soggy mess in their wake. With the storms behind them, owners
and operators of tens of thousands of commercial buildings – including office
buildings, schools, hospitals, malls and factories – face the cleanup and
remediation challenge of a lifetime. They need to get their buildings up and
running quickly, but they also need to make sure that they are restoring a safe,
healthy and comfortable indoor environment for building occupants and visitors.
December 03, 2012
Blog
BAXTER MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN SABIÑANIGO SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERS ENERGY USE AND
IMPROVES COMFORT
Baxter International Inc., is a diversified healthcare company that develops,
manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with
hemophilia, immune disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, kidney disease,
trauma and other chronic and acute medical conditions.
November 21, 2012
Blog
WHY BENCHMARKING MATTERS
If someone told you that they had a service used by 267,000 buildings comprising
40 percent of the non-residential market in the United States you’d be pretty
amazed right?
November 15, 2012
Blog
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AT INTESA SANPAOLO DATA CENTER IN PARMA, ITALY,
INCREASE OPERATIONAL AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Long gone are the days of paper deposit books and hand written banking records,
replaced instead by high-tech computerized data centers which make data readily
available to allow banks to move at the speed of today's global business
environment. While data centers have revolutionized the way businesses store and
access information, the data servers themselves often consume a tremendous
amount of energy.
November 08, 2012
Blog
FERRERO MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN BELSK, POLAND INCREASES ENERGY AND OPERATIONAL
EFFICIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY AND COMFORT
Ferrero may be best known for delicious chocolate creations wrapped in gold
foil, but the global confectionary company is setting an industry “gold
standard” at its Belsk, Poland manufacturing plant by embracing environmentally
responsible, energy-efficient systems.
October 19, 2012
Blog
HOW HEALTHCARE IS DRIVEN TOWARDS HIGH PERFORMANCE
We often focus on high performance from the perspective of building systems, but
rarely do we get the opportunity to learn about “high performance" as seen
through the eyes of a vertical industry.
October 10, 2012
Blog
CAN A SERVICE COMPANY PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE BY COMING OUT TO YOUR BUILDING
LESS?
If you asked 100 building managers to define good customer service from the
technician's that service their building's systems and equipment, the top
answers would likely include responsive, knowledgeable and reliable. For many
building managers, the mere presence of a technician on sight is enough to
instill comfort that building's systems are being brought up to, and kept in,
good service.
September 21, 2012
Blog
A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO RUNNING BUILDING SYSTEMS 24-7
A lot of buildings today run 24-7, even though they are unoccupied at night. But
with energy costs making up a significant portion of operating costs, it makes
sense for building operators to consider alternatives.
September 13, 2012
Blog
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS INSIGHTS: HOTELS
Occupancy rates in hotels vary greatly, requiring a heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC) system that can adapt to those types of changes while still
providing an absolutely comfortable environment for guests.
September 06, 2012
Blog
HISTORIC NEW YORK CITY CENTER KEEPS PATRONS AND PERFORMERS COMFORTABLE WITH HELP
FROM TRANE
The historic New York City Center is a 2,750 capacity dance theater in New York
City. The 12-story building has been owned by the City of New York since 1943,
when Mayor LaGuardia saved the building from being demolished for a parking lot
and turned it into a performing arts center.
August 29, 2012
Blog
INTELLIGENT SERVICES ENABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS
It is impossible to overstate the importance of developing and implementing
effective operating, service and maintenance strategies required to sustain a
new building’s original design performance expectations over its decades-long
occupied life. In fact, according to the National Institute of Building Sciences
(NIBS), operating and maintenance costs account for 65-80 percent of a typical
commercial building’s total lifecycle costs.
August 22, 2012
Blog
TRANE PUTS MUNICIPAL SQUARE ON THE PATH TO HIGH PERFORMANCE
Municipal Square is a five story commercial office building in West Orange, N.J.
The building has more than 100,000 square feet of office space, occupied by 35
tenants, including law firms, architects, accountants and other professional
service businesses.
August 14, 2012
Blog
INTELLIGENT SERVICE DELIVERS PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES FOR HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
In the last post we discussesd how technology and access to data gives building
operators the tools they need to improve operations by performing maintenance
when it is needed, rather than simply following a predetermined maintenance
interval.
August 06, 2012
Blog
USING TECHNOLOGY TO HELP FACILITY MANAGERS MAXIMIZE BUDGETS
The combined effects of a sluggish economic recovery, high energy prices and
changing environmental requirements continue to put pressure on owners and
operators of high rise buildings. Facilities teams are constantly looking for
ways to save energy, reduce operating costs, improve reliability and shrink
their environmental footprint, while also creating a comfortable, healthy and
productive place for people who work, live or visit in their buildings.
July 27, 2012
Blog
SMART ORGANIZATIONS TRANSFORM BUILDINGS FROM BURDENSOME LIABILITIES INTO
BUSINESS-ESSENTIAL, HIGH-PERFORMING ASSETS
Smart organizations transform buildings from burdensome liabilities into
business-essential, high-performing assets. This statement might seem simple on
its surface, but the idea gets at the heart of what the high performance
buildings approach is all about. For building owners who grasp this concept, the
reward is a building that reinforces, rather than detracts from, the
organizational mission.
July 20, 2012
Blog
TRANE HELPS EDMONDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACHIEVE MORE THAN $330K IN ANNUAL ENERGY
AND OPERATIONAL SAVINGS
Founded in 1967, Edmonds Community College (EdCC) helps students access
educational and career opportunities in a supportive environment that encourages
success, innovation, service and lifelong learning. The college spans 50 acres
in the heart of a northern Seattle suburb and employs more than 1,600 people,
contributing to the vitality of state and local economies. Edmonds has 21,000
students enrolled in Associate’s Degree programs, career training, adult
literacy, or continuing education classes.
July 12, 2012
Blog
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS SPOTLIGHT: TRANE PERFORMANCE CONTRACT SAVES OHIO
SCHOOL DISTRICT $900,000 PER YEAR
Located in southwestern Ohio, Lakota is the seventh largest school district in
the state, and the largest school district in Butler County. Lakota has grown in
the last 20 years from a rural district to a suburban district with more than
18,000 students.
July 05, 2012
Blog
LEADERS AT THREE RIVERS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ANTICIPATE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES
WILL REDUCE ENERGY COSTS MORE THAN 30 PERCENT
Three Rivers Community recently completed infrastructure upgrades that district
leaders anticipate will cut energy costs by more than 30 percent and save more
than $197,000 in annual energy and operational costs. The upgrades were made to
reduce costs while improving the learning environment within classrooms and
increasing sustainability district-wide.
June 29, 2012
Blog
TRANE INTELLIGENT SERVICES PROVIDES RELIEF IN THE CLUTCH FOR TULSA DRILLERS
BASEBALL FRANCHISE
As a minor league farm club for the Colorado Rockies, the Tulsa Drillers
understand the importance of performing in the clutch. In professional sports,
game time performance is critical, and the same goes for its stadium's heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
June 21, 2012
Blog
TRANE INTELLIGENT SERVICES: ENHANCING BUILDING MISSION
Every building operator has a set of expectations and a budget to manage. With
Trane Intelligent Services (TIS), Trane is able to offer performance
enhancements to meet any building’s specific requirements through advanced
automation strategies called Alarm Notification, Active Monitoring and Building
Performance.
June 07, 2012
Blog
TRANE INTELLIGENT SERVICES: DRIVING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
In business, access to the right information is the key to good decision making.
As the world becomes increasingly networked and interconnected, the pace of
business also increases, making timely access to information more important than
ever.
May 31, 2012
Blog
CLAYTON COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS POSITIVELY IMPACT COUNTY BUDGET
As local governments look for ways to cut costs and save money, one suburban
Atlanta county turned an investment in energy efficiency into six-figure annual
savings.
May 23, 2012
Blog
MAINTAINING UPTIME WHILE IMPROVING INDOOR COMFORT WAS THE KEY FOR GODREJ BHAVEN
IN MUMBAI
From high tech engineering to consumer goods, Godrej is one of India’s largest
industrial conglomerates. Recently the company decided to implement a more
energy efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) solution in
its Godrej Bhavan facility in Mumbai, India as part of the company's focus on
creating carbon neutral, zero waste, water positive and energy efficient
businesses.
May 16, 2012
Blog
ENERGY SAVING CONTROL STRATEGIES CONTINUED: PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND
RECOMMISSIONING
In the last post I talked about how a building control strategy works in tandem
with a building automation system (BAS) to operate a building efficiently and
optimally. In this post I'll talk about the different approaches for new
construction versus existing buildings, and the recommended approaches to
ongoing building maintenance.
May 10, 2012
Blog
BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS AND ENERGY SAVING CONTROL STRATEGIES
Most commercial buildings today have a building automation (BAS) system
installed. While these systems are designed to help a building operator
effectively manage a building's heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
systems, the simple presence of a control system doesn't guarantee good
performance.
May 03, 2012
Blog
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS SOLUTIONS HELP AIRPORT EXPANSION PROJECTS TAKE OFF
Long before the information superhighway made the world more inter-connected,
transportation advancements – trains, automobiles and airplanes – brought people
together and gave them access to new and remote parts of the world.
April 26, 2012
Blog
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS SPOTLIGHT: ROCK CREEK UNIFIED SCHOOLS EXPECTS $154K
ANNUAL SAVINGS FROM ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS
As budgets tighten, school districts across the country are looking for ways to
lower costs. For many districts, the cost savings of investments in energy
efficiency upgrades can be significant enough to help districts avoid cutting
back on staff or reducing school-funded programs to meet budget demands.
April 09, 2012
Blog
MAINTENANCE INNOVATIONS ENABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
It's the situation every building owner wants to avoid –they've invested in new
heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and yet building
performance is suffering.
March 27, 2012
Blog
ENERGY CONSERVATION: HOW A HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING APPROACH SAVES ENERGY AND
MONEY
For years, conservation groups , public utilities and government agencies have
promoted energy conservation as a critical priority for the nation. But energy
conservation doesn’t have to mean uncomfortable conditions for occupants. By
taking a high performance buildings approach, organizations can engage in
conservation efforts while promoting a comfortable, safe and productive
environment for all building occupants.
March 12, 2012
Blog
INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES EXPECTED TO NET CITY OF MARIETTA NEARLY $100K IN ANNUAL
SAVINGS
Nestled just north of Atlanta and just south of the North Georgia Mountains, the
City of Marietta, Ga., offers visitors the charm of a small city along with a
stimulating urban environment. With a beautiful and vibrant downtown square
filled with restaurants and antique shops, the city offers its 56,000 residents
access to beautiful parks, quaint streets, Victorian homes and historic sites.
February 29, 2012
Blog
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS CASE STUDY: CARILION ROANOKE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (CRMH) knew that it had no control over
utility rates, but that it did have control over its energy use. The hospital
sought to identify and implement energy conservation measures (ECMs) to reduce
costs, in alignment with its mission to provide quality patient care as
efficiently as possible.
February 15, 2012
Blog
CALLING ON PARTNERS TO DELIVER THE VISION
In this post we'll discuss the final piece, which is calling on partners to help
deliver the mission.
February 08, 2012
Blog
SETTING OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES, UNDERSTANDING TRADEOFFS AND MEASURING AGAINST
THE MISSION
This week I'll be building off the previous post about defining the building
mission, and will talk about defining the operational priorities for the
building, understanding the potential tradeoffs of efficiency measures, and
measuring performance against the building mission.
February 01, 2012
Blog
IDENTIFYING YOUR BUILDING'S MISSION AND BEGINNING THE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS
JOURNEY
In the previous posts in this series I've talked about how industry visionaries
better align building life cycle performance with organizational objectives, and
the five steps leaders should consider when developing a long-term approach to
improving building performance.
January 26, 2012
Blog
THE 5 KEY STEPS TO ADOPTING A HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS APPROACH
In the previous post I talked a about developing a more effective
decision-making model around system-centric life cycle economics and the need to
look beyond “simple payback” energy economics to a more long-term approach. This
post will take a look at the five key steps that leaders should consider when
developing a long-term approach that reduces operating costs, improves asset
value and supports the long-term mission of the organizations served by their
facilities.
January 18, 2012
Blog
HOW INDUSTRY VISIONARIES BETTER ALIGN BUILDING LIFE CYCLE PERFORMANCE WITH
ORGANIZATIONAL OBJECTIVES
When it comes to improving building performance, it's easy to focus on
short-term objectives and gains, and to gloss over the long-term effects of the
path taken or not. A common short-sighted approach is to focus on individual
component efficiency (chillers, air handlers, etc.) without understanding system
implications of how these pieces integrate efficiently, or how investments in
efficiency upgrades ultimately support the overall organizational mission.
January 10, 2012
Blog
WHAT'S NEXT FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS?
Green builder Hammer & Hand recently released its ten predictions for the US
high performance building industry in 2014. To no surprise, the predictions
cover a wide-range of variables, including the impact of new products entering
the market, procedural and policy shifts that focus on performance-based
measures, and the international energy efficiency movement’s effect on the US
market.
February 28, 2014
Blog
HOW ENERGY MODELLING TOOLS CAN CREATE EFFICIENT HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS
An inside look at why it is important to engage in modelling before you make
retrofit decisions, including financial factors to consider and how to use
energy modelling to predict results
March 06, 2014
Blog
HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY DEFINE SUSTAINABILITY?
Green construction is expected to increase along with overall construction
activity in 2014. Despite market pressures, or perhaps because of them,
companies and building owners are emphasizing sustainability measures that lead
to greater building efficiency, lower costs and a more productive workforce.
March 11, 2014
Blog
U.S. GOVERNMENT MOVES TO RAMP UP COMMERCIAL BUILDING EFFICIENCY
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill designed to ramp up
efficiency in commercial buildings and data centers known as the “Energy
Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014.”
March 24, 2014
Blog
MUSÉE D’ORSAY SAVES ENERGY, ENSURES LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY WITH TRANE
When working with historic buildings, one of the unique challenges we face is
upgrading building infrastructure systems without disturbing the unique
architecture or the priceless and irreplaceable artifacts within.
March 25, 2014
Blog
HOW TRANE IS HELPING CUSTOMERS REALIZE MORE EFFICIENT BUILDINGS IN 2014
In February, Trane featured a post highlighting Hammer & Hand’s top 10
predictions for the high performance building industry in 2014. Today, we offer
thoughts on these predictions and how our company and solutions fit into
forecasted trends...
April 16, 2014
Blog
TECH TIP: MANAGE BUILDINGS EFFECTIVELY IN EXTREME WEATHER
Web-based tools can help building managers optimize building operation to meet
tenant needs and energy consumption goals, utilizing alarm functions that alert
the property manager if temperatures fall outside of desired levels...
April 18, 2014
Blog
2014 COULD BE EVEN BETTER THAN 2013 FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
This year promises to be another strong one for energy efficiency. For example,
several actions included in Climate Action Plan will take place in 2014, such as
the release of draft CO2 emissions standards for existing power plants. We think
these measures are taking us...
April 25, 2014
Blog
WHY YOU SHOULD USE ENERGY MODELING TOOLS
In today’s cost-sensitive market, building and facility managers are proactively
seeking solutions to help control costs while improving building efficiency.
They all want to know, “How do I get more for less?” I aimed to answer this
question in my presentation...
May 13, 2014
Blog
ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY: KEY FACTORS TO STAYING COMPETITIVE
Research results from Ecova predict that 2014 will be a challenging year for
those responsible for managing energy resources. According to the research, 2014
will be the year that forces companies to take steps to improve results and
build...
May 22, 2014
Blog
REVISED STANDARDS MAY IMPACT BUILDING ENERGY MEASUREMENT
According to a ACHR article, ASHRAE’s latest revision to its Standard 105-2014
spells good news for the number crunchers among us as it creates a common basis
in reporting performance data for...
May 21, 2014
Blog
TEACHING THE VALUE OF SUSTAINABILITY
At Trane, we think it’s important to enhance sustainability education among the
upcoming generation of FMs. A recommendation by the Center for Green Schools at
USGBC and Houghton Mifflin Marcourt (HMH) advocates for just that...
May 28, 2014
Blog
WHY TRANE LEVERAGES PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION
With continued variability in temperatures throughout the year, increasing
energy efficiency becomes a top priority for organizations across many markets,
including the government...
December 11, 2014
Blog
HOW TRANE SOLUTIONS MAINTAIN COST-EFFICIENT HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
For Hardin Medical Center in western Tennessee, an outdated HVAC system affected
its ability to create an optimal environment of care, especially in the critical
labor and delivery areas. Read how Trane helped update its HVAC system.
February 17, 2015
Blog
TRANE: KEEPING THE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS ON IN CITY PARKS
In Vestavia Hills, Ala., a suburb outside of Birmingham, city leaders knew that
the cost to illuminate their sports fields, pools and tennis courts wasted
budget dollars. Light fixtures were greater than 30 years old — so old, in
fact...
February 24, 2015
Blog
A WATERSHED MOMENT: REALIZING ENERGY EFFICIENCIES IN WATER TREATMENT
It’s important for municipalities to manage their water treatment facilities
with an eye to efficiency in every phase of the water treatment cycle. Trane, a
known performance leader in the wastewater treatment industry, helped a client
do just that in...
March 03, 2015
Blog
LEARN HOW TRANE BUILDING ADVANTAGE™ CAN IMPROVE YOUR BUILDING
This week, Trane launched the new Trane Building Advantage brand at the National
Facilities Management and Technology (NFMT) Conference in Baltimore. The brand
represents the suite of energy services...
March 11, 2015
Blog
HOW TRANE HELPED A LUXURY RESORT UNLOCK $500K IN ANNUAL SAVINGS
(Hint: It has nothing to do with room rates or green fees) Owners at Pacific
Palms Resort in City of Industry, California were at a crossroads. Many of the
resort’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems were original
to the facility...
March 24, 2015
Blog
TRANE: DELIVERING A MECHANICAL SYSTEM THAT MEETS LEED CERTIFICATION
Contractors and developers may face various challenges throughout the
construction of a new building. Missed construction milestones and bad weather
delays are a couple of the multitude of issues that a developer must be prepared
to deal with...
April 02, 2015
Blog
SAVING ENERGY WHILE IMPROVING CAMPUS OPERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA
Higher education institutions face unique challenges when it comes to reducing
energy costs. Colleges and universities often have multiple campuses, each with
numerous buildings that may alternate from full capacity to empty several times
each day. This can create challenges not only for heating and cooling, but
lighting and water resource planning as well...
April 21, 2015
Blog
TRANSFORM YOUR BUILDING’S ENERGY USE WITH THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL
There are three main factors that combine to impact how much money building
owners and operators spend on energy. Think of these factors as three legs of
the same stool — letting any one factor get out of balance will result in an
unstable situation...
June 04, 2015
Blog
HOW TRANE HELPED A HIGH SCHOOL CREATE A BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
When heat exchangers on the rooftop units at Murfreesboro School District’s high
school cracked, administrators had to act quickly. Without a budget to
completely finance a repair or upgrade, the district needed to rely on matching
funds from the state...
June 10, 2015
Blog
TRANE SHEDS LIGHT ON ENERGY SAVINGS WITH INSTALLATION AT ROBINS AFB
For the 78th Civil Engineering Squadron at Robins Air Force Base (AFB), home to
60 military units and the largest industrial complex in Georgia, the poor
lighting levels in its hangars and engine shop was a cause for concern in
regards to safety and convenience...
July 20, 2015
Blog
TRANE IMPROVES COMFORT, SAVES COSTS FOR VANCOUVER AREA MALL
When the heat of summer sets in, shoppers seek relief in shopping malls where
they can shop, dine and spend time in air-conditioned comfort. But when indoor
comfort systems aren’t getting the job done, it can impact summertime traffic,
and the bottom line, for mall owners...
July 27, 2015
Blog
TRANSLATING ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND FACILITY MANAGEMENT INTO IMPACTS THAT MATTER
Buildings impact business results. Or, perhaps better said, the environments we
create to work, eat, play, learn, and live in impact the quality, productivity,
quantity, and efficacy of all indoor activities we do in our modern society...
September 18, 2015
Blog
HOW THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (YOUR BUILDING) IMPACTS PRODUCTIVITY AND RISK
MANAGEMENT
Managing the built environment has evolved just like every other aspect of our
lives. We expect more than the minimums of code compliance and a roof that
doesn’t leak. Healthy, productive, secure and sustainable — all are words that
apply in today’s facility management world. This post is part two...
September 25, 2015
Blog
EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLANNING: 7 STEPS HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS MUST FOLLOW
Extreme weather conditions underscore the need for facility teams to prepare for
the worst that nature can throw at their buildings. Given their critical
missions, healthcare and educational organizations must be prepared to respond
quickly and efficiently when a blizzard, flood, tornado, hurricane or other
disaster — natural or man-made — strikes...
October 30, 2015
Blog
GLYCOL IMPROVES EFFICIENCY, REDUCES MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR RESTAURANT KITCHENS
Advancements in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technology have
given restaurants a powerful system with a dual purpose — chilling refrigeration
appliances while keeping facilities comfortable...
January 13, 2016
Blog
INCREASING EFFICIENCY AND DRIVING INNOVATION AT MERCEDES-BENZ USA
Whether you’re part of a small business, or a multinational corporation, no
business is immune to the effects of an underperforming building comfort system.
When a chiller failed at Mercedes-Benz USA, they turned to Trane, a longtime
partner, to find a permanent, cost-effective solution.
February 17, 2016
Blog
TRANE IMPROVES SAFETY WITH UPGRADED BUILDING SYSTEMS AT HOPKINS COUNTY JAIL
When Hopkins County Jail discovered outdated gas heat exchangers were at risk of
leaking CO2 into a building with hundreds of inmates, its technicians knew they
needed to take immediate action...
February 25, 2016
Blog
U.S. EXPORTS FIRST LNG CARGO FROM GULF COAST
Regardless of the ultimate end game for U.S. LNG exports, this week’s shipments
from Sabine Pass represent a noteworthy step in exposing a generally-insulated
domestic market to more international influence.
February 26, 2016
Blog
U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION CONFIRMS YEAR-OVER-YEAR DROP IN U.S. OIL
PRODUCTION
With the release of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest
Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO) yesterday came finalized figures for December
2015, allowing for balance of the year analysis, and revisions to forecasts.
March 10, 2016
Blog
PJM COMMITTEE ADVANCES ELECTRICITY CAPACITY MARKET PROPOSALS
Last month, the PJM Interconnection's Market Implementation Committee advanced
proposals related to capacity performance, agreeing to add three items to the
list of parameters by which a resource’s schedule might be limited.
April 04, 2016
Blog
MADE IN THE SHADE — HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE HOTTEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR
Summer brings hotter temperatures — and higher energy bills. Energy costs for
commercial buildings can run up to 35 percent higher in the hottest months of
summer compared to other months of the year...
June 06, 2016
Blog
BEAT THE HEAT – MAKE SURE YOUR BUILDING IS SUMMER-READY
We all know it is coming, but somehow it still sneaks up on us. Summer. It
brings hotter temperatures, severe weather, and greater demand on building
systems and the bottom line. Commercial customers typically pay...
June 13, 2016
Blog
CHARTING A PATH TO SUMMER SAVINGS
From small improvement projects to large energy strategies, there are steps you
can take to reduce costs during the summer months, transforming your building
into an asset that can make you more profitable...
June 20, 2016
Blog
FEDERAL JUDGE OVERTURNS FRACKING RULES
On June 21, U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl ruled that the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) does not have the authority to create new rules and
regulate hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on...
June 27, 2016
Blog
STAY COOL WHILE AVOIDING THESE COMMON SUMMER PITFALLS
Once your building is summer-ready , it's important to be aware of some common
pitfalls that can keep your building from performing at its most efficient
level...
June 27, 2016
Blog
GAIN CONTROL WITH THESE 10 CONTINGENCY PLANNING STEPS
Summer’s extreme temperatures and unpredictable severe weather can result in
equipment or power outages. Being prepared for unexpected building failures can
save you valuable time and...
June 30, 2016
Blog
USE VALIDATION TO MAINTAIN YOUR SAVINGS
Validating your outcomes is a key step to help ensure your strategies are
yielding big results. Validation helps keep your building on track while also
gaining the buy in, resources and funding you may need for...
July 05, 2016
Blog
KEEP YOUR BUILDING ON-TRACK THIS SUMMER
Ongoing validation of your results is a key step to help ensure your strategies
are yielding big results. Validation helps keep your building on track, while
also gaining...
July 07, 2016
Blog
HOW HEAT IMPACTS BUILDING PERFORMANCE
Beyond the need for increased power to cool buildings, there are a number of
factors that can put increased pressure on your building systems in the summer
months, including...
July 12, 2016
Blog
ERCOT PRICE SPIKES
Last week, fear of increased heat across Texas pushed ERCOT North’s August peak
contract price to $89.90 per MWh, an increase of...
July 12, 2016
Blog
DON’T LET THE URBAN SUMMER HEAT DERAIL YOUR BUILDING’S PERFORMANCE
Summer in New York City can present a unique set of challenges for commercial
building owners and managers. Beyond the need for increased power to cool
buildings, there are a number of...
July 13, 2016
Blog
FOUR PHASES OF RETROCOMMISSIONING
There are steps you can take to minimize the impact summer’s increased demand
has on your building, even on the hottest days. Equipment is often...
July 14, 2016
Blog
BETTER CONTROL FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY
Finding performance-improving solutions for buildings is important all year
long, but it is especially critical in the summer. The increased demand on your
building and its systems can result in...
July 18, 2016
Blog
MANAGE THE SUMMER HEAT WITH THESE BUILDING TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS
Finding performance-improving solutions for commercial buildings is important
all year long, but it is especially critical in the summer. The increased demand
on your building and its systems can result in...
July 21, 2016
Blog
REDUCING UTILITY COSTS IN THE SUMMER BEGINS WITH MONITORING ENERGY USE
Commercial building owners and managers know that summer typically brings much
higher utility bills. But what you may not know is that even simple changes can
have a big impact on your utility bills...
July 25, 2016
Blog
WANT TO REDUCE UTILITY COSTS THIS SUMMER? IT STARTS WITH MONITORING
Commercial building owners and managers are often searching for relief from the
much higher utility bills that summer can bring. This is especially true in
California, where average electricity prices for commercial customers last
summer were...
July 25, 2016
Blog
NUCLEAR DECAY
Regulators are facing a dilemma of what to do with nuclear power generation in
the coming years. Over the past two months, the retirements of four nuclear
power plants across Illinois, California, and Nebraska have been announced...
July 26, 2016
Blog
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED THIS SUMMER?
Summer’s extreme heat and potential for severe weather increase the risk of
unexpected equipment failure and power outages. These disruptions can occur for
many reasons...
August 01, 2016
Blog
CANADA’S FUTURE NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION
With the North American shale revolution the key energy development of the past
decade, it’s surprising to know that Canada’s natural gas production has
actually been falling. Canada is still the world's...
August 02, 2016
Blog
BEING PREPARED FOR POWER DISRUPTION IS AS EASY AT 1, 2, 3
A power outage can result in business interruption that is costly for you and
your building tenants...
August 04, 2016
Blog
HOW UNDERSTANDING YOUR ENERGY COSTS CAN SAVE YOU GREEN THIS SUMMER
With summer temps hitting record levels, building owners and managers are
looking for ways to control energy costs. Your energy spend is a big part of
your budget, and there are two main ways to impact it...
August 08, 2016
Blog
HOW CAN RENEWABLE ENERGY BENEFIT YOUR BUILDING THIS SUMMER — AND ALL YEAR LONG
Renewable energy solutions can be a feasible option to help reduce your
building’s dependence on the energy grid so you are buying less energy in the
summer — and all year long...
August 15, 2016
Blog
ARE RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS RIGHT FOR YOUR BUILDING?
Renewable energy solutions can be a feasible option to help reduce your
building’s dependence on the grid so you are buying less energy in the summer...
August 18, 2016
Blog
3 WAYS TO CONTROL YOUR ENERGY SPEND THIS SUMMER
With summer temps hitting record levels in May and June, it is important to look
for ways to control energy costs. Energy spend is a big part of your budget,
and...
August 11, 2016
Blog
ARE RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS RIGHT FOR YOUR BUILDING?
Renewable energy solutions can be a feasible option to help reduce your
building’s dependence on the grid so you are buying less energy in the summer —
and all year long.
August 18, 2016
Blog
HOW SUMMER REVEALS OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Each season is like a history lesson about your building — allowing building
owners and managers to capture a snapshot of equipment performance, efficiency,
energy use and...
August 22, 2016
Blog
HOW TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Taking stock of issues as summer wraps up — and getting a clear picture of the
health of your systems and equipment — will help you prepare for the next summer
season...
August 25, 2016
Blog
NOW IS THE TIME TO CONSIDER BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS
As summer winds down, you likely have a better idea of what improvements can be
made in your building to help optimize energy efficiency, occupant comfort and
equipment performance. Now is a good time to consider...
August 29, 2016
Blog
INVESTING IN PROJECTS NOW CAN PAY OFF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
In most cases in life, it’s better to be proactive than reactive, and now is the
time to consider what improvement projects need to be done that will pay off...
September 01, 2016
Blog
COLDER DAYS ARE COMING — NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE
Even though the temperature is falling, your building and equipment will still
be called upon to work hard in the coming months. And now is the time to look
ahead to ensure your systems and equipment are up to the task...
September 06, 2016
Blog
U.S. LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG) EXPORT MARKET UPDATE
The U.S. natural gas industry has gone global via the export of LNG. In the
first six months of this year, nearly 50 Bcf of LNG was shipped out, and the
U.S. is set to become a net LNG exporter in 2017. The rapidly globalizing gas
market is a critical new outlet for...
September 06, 2016
Blog
GET YOUR BUILDING READY FOR THE CHANGING SEASONS
The dog days of summer will soon be in your rear view mirror. Even though the
temperature is falling, your building and equipment will still be called upon to
work hard in the coming months...
September 12, 2016
Blog
TOP 5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AT HEALTHCARE
ORGANIZATIONS
With over 80% of all capital decisions being made by Executives, many healthcare
organizations since 2009 have downsized their middle management ranks and thus
more scrutiny is being placed on lower dollar capital decisions...
October 05, 2016
Blog
CANADA’S FUTURE NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION
With the North American shale revolution the key energy development of the past
decade, it’s surprising to know that Canada’s natural gas production has
actually been...
October 04, 2016
Blog
RISING U.S. NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION
Despite some of the lowest prices in 20 years, U.S. natural gas production has
continued to increase. Thanks to the widespread deployment of hydraulic
fracturing and horizontal drilling technologies, national output has gained
every year since 2006 and is closing in on...
October 04, 2016
Blog
HEARING ON THE CLEAN POWER PLAN INCONCLUSIVE
On September 27th the DC Circuit Court held hearings on the Clean Power Plan
(CPP), an action that many have wanted since its proposal by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) last August.
October 11, 2016
Blog
THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE U.S. NATURAL GAS STORAGE INVENTORY
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Weekly Storage Report and the
overall natural gas storage inventory have long been drivers of NYMEX natural
gas pricing in the United States. The weekly report, released at 10:30 AM ET on
Thursdays, details the weekly changes to domestic natural gas storage inventory
levels and tends to be followed by a quick flurry of trading activity....
October 17, 2016
Blog
MEXICO’S NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION EXPECTED TO INCREASE
The catalyst for Mexico’s historic 2013 Energy Reforms was the 2004 peaking of
the Cantarell oil field in the Gulf of Mexico, once responsible for over half of
Mexico’s energy production and the second largest oil field in the world.
October 25, 2016
Blog
ENERGY MODELING SOFTWARE
It’s an often-repeated statistic: about 40 percent of the energy used in this
country is consumed in residential and commercial buildings. That’s more energy
than is used in both the transportation and energy sectors. Alarmingly, however,
much of that energy is wasted — 30 percent in the average commercial building,
according to Energy Star. So, what can be done?
November 02, 2016
Blog
LOOKING FORWARD: WHAT A TRUMP PRESIDENCY MAY MEAN FOR U.S. ENERGY MARKETS
President-elect Donald Trump is now in place. While promising to “cancel” the
COP21 Paris Accord accepted under President Obama and pushing a fossil fuel-led
revival to underpin job growth, a Trump administration will rearrange domestic
energy and...
November 11, 2016
Blog
CAPEX REDUCTIONS TODAY COULD LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR A PRICE SPIKE
The oil and gas price collapse has discouraged investments in future production
in recent months and is setting up a potential spike in prices. The industry is
caught in an underinvestment cycle that could reverberate much sooner than most
realize...
November 21, 2016
Blog
OPEC’S PRODUCTION CUTS: WILL THEY MATTER?
After weeks of negotiations, OPEC ministers in Vienna on Wednesday agreed to
lower their oil supplies to ease a global glut that has halved prices since
2014. The 14 Member Countries worked a deal to cut crude production by...
December 01, 2016
Blog
THE U.S. LEADING A GLOBALIZING NATURAL GAS MARKET
Today, only about 33% of all natural gas used is traded internationally, versus
66% for oil. Gas has typically been sold in three regionalized markets with
different contract structures; North America (hub-based), Asia Pacific
(oil-indexed), and Europe (hub-based and oil-indexed). But, the sale of LNG is
transforming natural gas from...
December 12, 2016
Blog
ELECTRIC IMPORTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT: WHAT THE NEW ENGLAND CLEAN POWER LINK
TELLS US ABOUT DEMAND
"On December 5th the New England Clean Power Link (NECPL) received its
Presidential Permit, a required license for any transmission project that links
the U.S. power grid to that of another country. The $1.2 billion project,
financed by... "
December 17, 2016
Blog
U.S. NORTHEAST GAS PLAYS GETTING CRITICAL PIPELINE RELIEF
Even since the price collapse started 2014, natural gas production in the
Marcellus has increased nearly 15% to 18.3 Bcf/d, with output in the neighboring
Utica up 130% to 4.1 Bcf/d. These two northeast shale plays are almost single
handedly reversing the U.S. gas market to flow more north to...
December 28, 2016
Blog
NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION FALLS IN 2016, LOOKS TO REBOUND IN 2017
Over the past decade, the “shale revolution” has redefined natural gas
production in the United States. The combination of advancements in hydraulic
fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling opened up numerous new drilling
basins in...
January 30, 2017
Blog
THE OUTLOOK FOR U.S. NUCLEAR POWER
The U.S. nuclear power industry faces an uncertain future. While nuclear has
held its 18-20% share of U.S. electricity generation, the total number of
nuclear reactors/plants has fallen to...
February 01, 2017
Blog
CHANGES IN ONTARIO CAPACITY MARKET MARK NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL INDUSTRIALS
Independent Electricity System Operator, the Independent System Operator for
Ontario, Canada, recently changed its capacity market to give medium-sized
industrial customers the option to augment...
February 09, 2017
Blog
THE U.S. NATURAL GAS PROFILE: A GUIDE FOR DOMESTIC CONSUMERS
All natural gas consumers should understand the dynamic U.S. gas demand
structure as the competition for gas is becoming increasingly fierce. Given low
prices and broadening environmental goals, natural gas is easily...
February 21, 2017
Blog
NEW YORK RELEASES PLAN FOR DISTRIBUTED RESOURCES
In late January, the New York Independent Service Operator (NYISO) released its
updated Distributed Energy Roadmap. This document aims to address many of the
concerns around...
February 27, 2017
Blog
DRILL BABY, DRILL - HOW THE PERMIAN BASIN IS LEADING THE E&P RESURGENCE IN THE
UNITED STATES
The natural gas and crude oil exploration and production (E&P) sector took a hit
in 2016. A downturn in both gas and crude pricing, where both traded at prices
not seen in more than...
March 09, 2017
Blog
TWO ATTEMPTED CAPACITY REFORMS IN MISO COME TO NAUGHT
In the past weeks, two different efforts to change MISO’s capacity system have
concluded. One, an in-the-weeds discussion on how transmission affects capacity
pricing, ended with a...
March 16, 2017
Blog
NEW TRANSMISSION REQUIRED FOR MORE WIND AND SOLAR
Perhaps the biggest obstacle to our national goal of deploying more wind and
solar energy is their incapacity to be physically transported to a power plant
like coal or natural gas. Because of this, the generating facility must be...
March 31, 2017
Blog
MEET THE ZEC. IT’S COMPLETELY THE SAME AS THE REC, BUT NOT AT ALL.
In the past months two states have passed legislation creating Zero Emissions
Credit, or ZEC, programs. While the name “Zero Emissions,” seems to hint at a...
April 07, 2017
Blog
THE TRIAD OF U.S. NATURAL GAS DEMAND GROWTH
Thanks to a shale production boom, falling prices, and its cleaner burning and
versatile nature, there has been a rush to utilize natural gas in the United
States. Looking forward, there are three sectors that will significantly
increase demand...
April 21, 2017
Blog
WORLD FM DAY: HONORING OUR BUILDING’S HEROES
Simply put: the role of today’s facility manager is tough. Every day, in every
corner of the world, facility managers are hard at work making a positive impact
on our environments, people and communities. They do this while...
May 17, 2017
Blog
TIPS FOR REVIEWING THE PROGRESS IN YOUR ENERGY PROJECTS
Buildings today are full of hidden potential and more connected than ever – with
access to valuable data and insight, new levels of efficiencies can be reached.
In honor of World FM Day, we’ve compiled a few tips from our experts to help
you...
May 17, 2017
Blog
5 TIPS FOR SUSTAINING RESULTS FROM YOUR ENERGY PROJECTS
With summer right around the corner, energy efficiency is at the top of every
facility manager’s mind. No one wants to be forced into the position of having
to choose between increases costs – either due to...
May 24, 2017
Blog
3 STEPS FOR REDUCING RESTAURANT ENERGY COSTS
Restaurant owners and facility managers are challenged every day to improve
energy efficiency and reduce utility costs. So what can be done about it...
May 30, 2017
Blog
DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN: OPEC AND FRIENDS AGREE TO CUT PRODUCTION
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and a group of high
producing allies, including Russia, have agreed to extend their combined 1.8
million barrels per day production cuts for...
May 31, 2017
Blog
COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE ACTION
Ingersoll Rand remains committed to climate action, including reducing energy
demand and greenhouse gas emissions related to our products and operations.
Regardless of political opinion...
June 02, 2017
Blog
SENATE CONFIRMATION PROCESS FOR FERC COMMISSIONERS UNDERWAY
On May 25, two nominees for positions at the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC), Neil Chatterjee and Robert Poweleson, were interviewed by...
June 07, 2017
Blog
HOW TO KNOW IF DUCTLESS HVAC IS RIGHT FOR YOU
When you think of most HVAC systems, you likely don’t think of a ductless system
if you’re in North America. But in Europe and Asia, ductless HVAC has been the
industry norm for more than 30 years and has been used extensively...
June 13, 2017
Blog
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRICES?
The link between crude oil and natural gas prices is critical for end-users:
these two sources are increasingly being produced by the same companies and
together supplied 70% of U.S. energy demand in 2016. To set the context, Figure
1 demonstrates oil and gas prices since 1997.
June 28, 2017
Blog
GLOBAL ACTION THAT MATTERS
Climate action is a global issue and we strive to offer our customers around the
world choices about when and how they want to achieve both their business and
sustainability goals...
July 07, 2017
Blog
IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUC AND TALKS LIKE A DUC...
When natural gas producers successfully drill a new well, they do not
automatically extract all the gas. Some of these wells are capped, their gas to
be used another day...
July 10, 2017
Blog
DUCTLESS OFFERS GREAT ENERGY COST SAVINGS
For many builders and property managers, the biggest reason to switch to a
ductless heating and cooling system is the overall ultimate cost savings...
July 11, 2017
Blog
PJM POWER PRICES ARE DOWN…A LOT
Power pricing in PJM is down. Since 2015, we have seen average prices for 2019
power drop from $45 per megawatt hour (MWh) to $35/MWh, with 2020 prices even
lower than that...
June 23, 2017
Blog
HELPING SCHOOLS GET STRAIGHT-A’S IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
K-12 schools spend $8 billion annually on energy costs — more than they spend on
computers and textbooks combined — and Energy Star® estimates about...
July 24, 2017
Blog
ORGANIZING A CRITICAL SYSTEMS CONTINGENCY PLAN
From natural disasters to everyday mechanical failures, all facilities face some
level of risk due to power, HVAC or compressed air failure. A failure could
result in anything from minor discomfort due to lack of temperature control to
losing hundreds ...
July 27, 2017
Blog
AN UPDATE ON CALIFORNIA’S ALISO CANYON NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY
In October 2015, Southern California’s Aliso Canyon, the second largest natural
gas storage site in the U.S., sprung a leak. It took over four months to plug
the blowout, which more than doubled the...
July 26, 2017
Blog
BIRMINGHAM TAKES BOLD ACTIONS TO CUT ENERGY COSTS
Fixing problems in aging buildings was taking a financial toll on the city of
Birmingham, Alabama. City leaders spent emergency funds to make repairs and keep
facilities in working condition. Failing building systems forced the closure
of...
July 31, 2017
Blog
AN UPDATE ON CALIFORNIA’S ALISO CANYON NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY (PART 2)
The Aliso Canyon natural gas leak was a public health and environmental
catastrophe. Thousands of families were relocated from their homes, many
complaining of health issues. The damage done to...
August 03, 2017
Blog
THREE WAYS BIRMINGHAM CHOSE TO BE BOLD
Failing building systems, unsafe conditions and exorbitant energy repairs were a
wake-up call for the city of Birmingham, Alabama...
August 08, 2017
Blog
DESPITE CURTAILMENT COMPLIANCE, CRUDE PRICES CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE
In November 2016, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or
OPEC, announced that it would start to curtail its crude oil production in
January 2017 for the first time in nine years...
August 11, 2017
Blog
THE OUTLOOK FOR U.S. PASSENGER ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Although EVs are gaining in popularity, they remain a niche market. A stronger
future seems assured.
August 23, 2017
Blog
LESSONS IN POWER DEREGULATION: MONTANA
In recent months, there has been more talk around the creation of a new
Independent Service Operator (ISO) in the western U.S., sparked by Nevada’s
November 2016 preliminary vote to...
September 01, 2017
Blog
RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOR CUTTING ENERGY COSTS IN HALF WITH 2017
ENERGY EFFICIENCY LEADER AWARD FROM TRANE
Both Trane® and Ingersoll Rand remain committed to reducing the environmental
impacts of the company’s operations and product portfolio. In fact, we reported
significant progress toward...
September 06, 2017
Blog
ON THE DOE WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY MARKETS AND RELIABILITY REPORT
Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) released its anticipated study on
wholesale electricity markets and reliability. Commissioned by Energy Secretary
Rick Perry, the report examines if...
September 07, 2017
Blog
DOES YOUR SCHOOL HAVE POOR IAQ?
Nearly half of the nation’s school buildings have reported problems related to
indoor air quality (IAQ). Why does IAQ in school buildings matter? Numerous
studies link IAQ to student health and...
September 14, 2017
Blog
SUSTAINABLE ALCHEMY IN VERMONT
After eight years of success at their original location, co-owners John and Jen
Kimmich decided to open a second Alchemist Brewery location to help meet their
growing production needs...
October 03, 2017
Blog
GRAND HYATT NEW YORK AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND
SUSTAINABILITY
Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and
efficient environments, joined international leaders from business, government
and civil society at Climate Week NYC 2017 in New York City to discuss the
momentum of global climate action.
September 19, 2017
Blog
HURRICANES HARVEY AND IRMA AND THE IMPACT TO NATURAL GAS PRICES
The impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma on natural gas prices was mostly muted.
In fact for futures contracts, on Friday August 25, right when Harvey's Texas
landfall was imminent, prompt-month...
September 20, 2017
Blog
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PROPOSES MARKET CHANGES
On September 28th, the Department of Energy (DOE) proposed that the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) require independent system operators make
whole certain “baseload” energy generators. This is only the second time in the
history that...
October 16, 2017
Blog
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION SET TO MAKE RECOMMENDATION ON U.S. SOLAR CELLS
CASE
On September 25, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted unanimously
to side with Suniva Inc. and SolarWorld Americas Inc.’s claims that foreign-made
crystalline silicon solar cells and panels were...
October 18, 2017
Blog
EPA REPEALS CLEAN POWER PLAN
On October 10th the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Scott Pruitt, announced that he was signing a proposal to repeal the Clean Power
Plan (CPP), effectively ending the embattled program. This move was largely...
October 23, 2017
Blog
COLDER DAYS ARE COMING, NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE
In most regions, the hot summer days are finally behind us. Even though the
temperature is falling, your HVAC system will still work hard over the coming
months. October is National Energy Awareness Month...
October 26, 2017
Blog
NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION REACHES RECORD LEVELS
Domestic dry natural gas production reached a record 75.8 Bcf/d on Thursday,
October 26 as output continues to grow and infrastructure projects start to come
online or near completion. The record production comes after relatively flat...
November 03, 2017
Blog
WIRELESS VS WIRED BUILDING AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS
We are hearing a lot about replacing wired with wireless solutions today. While
many agree with the wireless benefits, they also wonder which technology...
November 08, 2017
Blog
OIL PRICES ARE FINALLY STARTING TO RISE
Now at their highest levels since mid-2015, oil prices have steadily increased
in recent weeks. International benchmark Brent has breached the technical and
psychological barrier of...
November 09, 2017
Blog
HELP MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF IOT FROM BUILDING EQUIPMENT
Connected buildings, the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart devices are popular
industry buzzwords. But do your clients have a true understanding of what a
connected building..
November 14, 2017
Blog
CONNECTICUT MOVES CLOSER TO A NUCLEAR SUBSIDY
On October 31 Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law Senate Bill
1501. This bill would give the state’s only nuclear generator, the Millstone
nuclear facility, the chance to...
November 29, 2017
Blog
TRACE® 3D PLUS BUILDING DESIGN MODELING: MORE INTUITIVE, MORE ACCURATE, MORE
EFFICIENT AND MORE VISUALLY DYNAMIC
Robots… drones… wearable technologies… the smartphone we carry in our pocket. As
consumers, we constantly look for the latest and greatest technologies, designed
to...
December 05, 2017
Blog
ESSENTIAL HVAC EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPORARY ICE RINKS
Learn about the different types of HVAC equipment that are essential when
building and maintaining portable ice rinks.
December 08, 2017
Blog
APPALACHIA DRIVES GROWTH IN U.S. NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION
In its monthly Drilling Productivity Report, the U.S. Energy Information
Administration has recently combined its production data on the “Marcellus” and
“Utica” shale plays into...
December 11, 2017
Blog
FEDERAL TAX CUTS COULD MEAN POWER SAVINGS FOR END USERS
With the signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, many state Public Utility
Commissions (PUC) are now looking at how the bill will affect the utilities that
they regulate.
January 12, 2018
Blog
NET-ZERO TO HERO: A HEAT RECOVERY RETROFIT AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA
Finding the sweet spot of energy efficiency and comfort is challenging enough
for a standard building, but it truly gets tricky when multiple areas are thrown
in the mix. “We have all sorts of spaces — Omnitheater, gift shop, exhibit
halls, restaurants and catering facilities, exhibit and graphic production
shops, meeting rooms and classrooms, and a parking ramp — that all have
different energy needs,” said Todd Gray, assistant superintendent of facilities,
Science Museum of Minnesota.
January 16, 2018
Blog
GLOBAL OIL & GAS DISCOVERIES FELL IN 2017 - BUT THE FUTURE SHINES BRIGHT
Last year was a down one for adding new oil and gas discoveries to the global
stockpile. Less than 7 billion barrels of oil equivalent were discovered, the
lowest total since the 1940s.
January 23, 2018
Blog
SOLAR TARIFFS, PIPELINE APPROVAL HIGHLIGHT RECENT REGULATORY DECISIONS
On Monday, January 22 President Trump approved new tariffs on imported solar
panels and solar cells. The decision is in response to claims from SolarWorld
and Suniva that increasing imports from foreign companies were negatively
impacting domestic solar companies.
January 25, 2018
Blog
SIX WAYS TO KEEP BREATHING FROM BEING DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH
With people spending approximately 90% of their time indoors, the correlation
between illness, respiratory problems and other issues with the indoor
environment is quite strong.
February 01, 2018
Blog
HOW WILL TWO NEW PJM PROPOSALS IMPACT YOUR POWER?
The PJM Interconnection has in recent months put forward two proposals that
could have significant impacts on delivered power prices in the region. One
would alter how LMPs (Locational Marginal Price, the technical name for the cost
of energy) are calculated while the other would change how capacity charges,
fixed fees paid to generators, are created.
February 07, 2018
Blog
IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT-GENERATION REFRIGERANTS
Regardless of the ups and downs of regulations in the U.S., the transition is
going forward and has already begun. Our next generation products are available
throughout our portfolio and are nonflammable so our customers have choices
today.
February 14, 2018
Blog
HOW TO IMPLEMENT LATEST RETROFIT CHILLER TECHNOLOGY IN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
As buildings age, so does the equipment that keeps the environment comfortable.
There are options for older infrastructure to improve efficiency.
February 20, 2018
Blog
THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEMS - REMARKABLE RESILIENCE FROM A SUSTAINABLE FOOTPRINT
We spend roughly 90% of our time inside structures, and these structures require
cooling to offset heat generated by us, our computers, lighting, and the ambient
temperatures outside. Most cooling systems demand electricity during peak-demand
periods. These demands are usually > 50% of the entire energy demand of the
building.
March 01, 2018
Blog
WHAT'S UP WITH TEXAS POWER? (OTHER THAN THE COST)
Summer power is always more expensive in Texas. This is not surprising as ERCOT,
the corporation that runs the power grid for most of the state, has eschewed a
capacity market and instead allows price spikes to compensate occasional
generation.
March 19, 2018
Blog
SOUND STUDY: DOES HVAC EQUIPMENT SUPPORT LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS?
In the average school day, children spend 75 percent of their time listening.
They listen to their teacher, they listen to each other, they listen to
presentations and videos and readings — they listen to learn.
March 27, 2018
Blog
THE $13 BILLION A YEAR MYSTERY: UNDERSTANDING PJM’S DEMAND CHARGES
PJM Interconnection, the Regional Transmission Organization that serves over 65
million people in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, is one of the most poorly
understood entities in the U.S.’s electric landscape. PJM is the grid operator
in 13 states plus Washington, DC, controlling and optimizing the flow of power
through 82,000 miles of transmission lines spanning Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
the Washington Beltway, and much of the Midwest.
April 03, 2018
Blog
INTRODUCING … THE NEW INTELLIPAK® ROOFTOP SYSTEM WITH SYMBIO™ 800 CONNECTED
CONTROLS
We talked to Charles Abbinanti, Product Manager for Trane® large commercial
rooftop equipment, to ask him what’s in store for the latest product release,
coming in May. What’s new? What’s improved? And how Is Intellipak maximizing
outcomes for our customers? Read on.
April 12, 2018
Blog
WHAT FIVE ACTIONS WOULD REAL RESILIENCY ADDRESS?
Reliability has long been associated with the power sector and is, in fact, one
of the cornerstones of the modern electric grid. Defined broadly as a utility’s
ability to supply as much power as is needed at any given time, it is encoded in
standards at every level, from NERC to state regulatory commissions.
Significantly, these standards are quantitatively backed, enabling outcomes to
be analyzed in detail to identify problems and ensure that expensive solutions
to edge case scenarios are not over applied.
April 20, 2018
Blog
ACHIEVING AIR QUALITY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND OCCUPANT COMFORT WITH AIR HANDLING
UNITS – WITH HOSPITAL CASE STUDY
With every breath you take, you’re measuring the air quality around you.
Maintaining good air quality is key to creating a comfortable environment in a
facility, for patrons and residents. But how do you attain good air quality,
especially when you’re dealing with multiple factors like climate, the building
systems, and regulations?
April 24, 2018
Blog
WOMEN IN HVAC: WHAT WE’RE DOING AND WHY IT MATTERS
With Women's History Month and International Women’s Day both in March, it was
the perfect time for companies like ours to reflect on what we’re doing to
inspire and encourage women in HVAC — and what more could be done.
May 01, 2018
Blog
CONNECTED BUILDINGS: WHY YOU NEED TO GO BEYOND THE DATA
Over the last five years, the terms “smart” or “connected” buildings have been
used regularly, but what does that look like in practice? And how does it equate
to business results?
May 07, 2018
Blog
4 REASONS VRF IS THE HVAC SOLUTION FOR YOUR BUILDING
Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) is the ideal HVAC technology for facilities that
need an energy-efficient solution. Unlike other options, VRF systems can produce
30 to 40 percent energy savings, which is significant when 50 percent of a
building’s energy usage comes from its HVAC system.
May 22, 2018
Blog
THERMAL AND BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE WORKING TOGETHER FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE RESULTS
The energy market is going through a mass transformation. Fossil fuels are being
used less and less and renewable energy is on the rise. As a result, an
important element is disappearing – energy storage.
May 29, 2018
Blog
HOW DO RISING OIL PRICES IMPACT THE U.S. NATURAL GAS MARKET?
From the OPEC-led production cuts to global geopolitical turmoil to surging
demand in China, a variety of factors have been pushing oil prices to four-year
highs. U.S. WTI has recently been up 20% this year to over $71 per barrel, and
the possibility of $100 oil has entered the market.
June 05, 2018
Blog
MORE ACCURATE VALUATION FINDS THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE UP TO 77 PERCENT MORE
IMPACTFUL THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT
According to a recent research project, Valuation of Thermal Energy Storage for
Utility Grid Operators, conducted by the Western Cooling Efficiency Center at
University of California-Davis (UC Davis), thermal energy storage can provide
significantly greater benefits to utilities and electricity grid operators than
previously thought.
June 12, 2018
Blog
WHAT GOING BEYOND MEANS TO STEVE TUDOR, ACCOUNT MANAGER IN NASHVILLE, TN
Let’s Go Beyond™ -- The tagline permeates Trane literature, advertisements,
vehicles, videos, websites and tradeshow materials. Used to convey our company’s
personality and character, the tagline elevates us beyond the simple and known,
onto bigger thinking and bigger problem solving, showing that Trane is leading
the way beyond just products to systems, services and total solutions.
June 19, 2018
Blog
HOW DOES THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE ADD VALUE TO YOUR ZERO ENERGY BUILDING STRATEGY?
Fueled by new regulations such as those being imposed in California and
Vancouver, Canada, requiring net zero new construction; challenges by
organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for all new
buildings to be carbon neutral by 2030; new building codes encouraging less
energy use; real estate firms wanting to differentiate their holdings in the
competitive marketplace; and building owners just wanting to do the right thing
for the environment, the Zero Energy Building (ZEB) concept is receiving
increased emphasis in the commercial real estate industry.
June 27, 2018
Blog
DO THE BULLS HAVE A CHANCE?
Is sub-$3.00 natural gas the new normal? Can the NYMEX prompt-month contract
actually make a rally? In short, do the bulls have a chance anymore?
July 10, 2018
Blog
HOW TO GET STARTED WITH CONNECTED BUILDINGS
The ability to connect building systems and equipment through the internet has
been around for years thanks to advancing technology and better equipment
design. This capability has led to a trend in connected or smart buildings where
connected devices (e.g., lighting, security systems and HVAC equipment) produce
data that can be captured and applied to significantly increase efficiency and
save money.
July 17, 2018
Blog
SUMMER ENERGY BEST PRACTICES
In the warm summer months, electrical demand goes up, driving prices higher.
Meanwhile, HVAC equipment kicks into high gear to keep occupants cool. It’s the
annual conundrum as building operators struggle to maintain the balance between
cost and comfort. It’s time to take on a few summer energy projects.
July 24, 2018
Blog
NEVADA LOOKS TOWARD ELECTRICITY DEREGULATION VOTE
Nationally, the trend of power deregulation seems to have largely stabilized.
While there are some occasional efforts in states like Ohio or Michigan to
re-regulate, these rarely make it past the introduction of a bill or speculation
on the part of a utility spokesperson. Similarly, few states seem to be
interested in deregulating (or in the case of California and Michigan, further
deregulating) their power sector.
August 07, 2018
Blog
WHERE IS WIND ENERGY IN THE U.S. HEADED?
With natural gas first and solar third, wind has been the second most prolific
source of new U.S. power generation capacity over the past 15 years or so.
August 14, 2018
Blog
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT USING R-22 IN HVAC SYSTEMS
R-22 was the most popular refrigerant used in commercial and residential air
conditioning units for many years because it was considered a safe and
cost-efficient refrigerant choice by the HVACR industry. But as anyone in the
industry knows, R-22 was phased out in the U.S. beginning in 2010 because it is
ozone depleting.
August 21, 2018
Blog
THE FORMULA FOR ENERGY SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
When customers ask for our help in analyzing their energy bill, we start by
building a fundamental understanding of the influencing factors.
August 28, 2018
Blog
PREDICTIVE BUILDING ANALYTICS: THE FUTURE OF HVAC AUTOMATION
Would you feel more confident in your building’s performance if technology could
predict equipment failures before they happen? In the Internet of Things (IoT)
age, this level of insight is possible and is known as predictive analytics.
September 05, 2018
Blog
U.S. NATURAL GAS EXPORTS TO MEXICO AT RECORD HIGHS
With two new pipelines entering service in June (Nueva Era and El
Encinco-Topolobampo), U.S. piped gas to Mexico has been soaring to all-time
highs.
September 11, 2018
Blog
POWER BILL 101: WHAT’S DRIVING YOUR PRICE? REVEALING THE SECRETS OF YOUR ENERGY
BILL
Electricity bills can be painful. Ask businesses about their operating expenses,
and most will say that energy is in their top three. If the utilities in your
state are regulated, look to optimize your utility rate schedule.
September 18, 2018
Blog
4 WAYS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR BUILDING'S PERFORMANCE ON A BUDGET
Delaying building improvements because of budget can ultimately cost more in
reduced performance and inefficiency. So don’t wait. Here are four opportunities
for building optimization on a budget.
October 03, 2018
Blog
CANADIAN LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG) FACILITY MOVING FORWARD
After years of waiting in uncertainty, LNG Canada, a major liquefied natural gas
(LNG) liquefaction and export project in British Columbia, is finally moving
forward.
October 09, 2018
Blog
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH MIKE PATTERSON, AGILITY PRODUCT MANAGER
Commercial buildings are facing a challenge rooted more than 20 years ago.
Before 1980, large heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units were
often placed in hard-to-reach areas — basement-level mechanical and utility
rooms — to hide their bulky large appearance.
October 18, 2018
Blog
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY NEED NOT BE CONTROVERSIAL
As corporate sustainability efforts are at an all-time high, there is increasing
interest in how these efforts are reported and how they impact overall business.
While many companies wish to be seen as leaders in sustainability, some question
if these efforts are compatible with their core business functions. This dilemma
is best exemplified in two incidents from the past several weeks.
October 24, 2018
Blog
LOW STORAGE LEVELS COULD SPIKE U.S. WINTER NATURAL GAS PRICES
With the winter just a few weeks away, it has become increasingly clear that the
U.S. will go into this heating season with the lowest amount of gas in storage
since 2003. Storage is now expected to be at just 3.25 trillion cubic feet
(Tcf), well below the 3.8 Tcf that was seen last year and the record 4.05 Tcf
that we had to start the winter of 2016-2017. Some colder temperatures to end
October are expected to put injections below normal over the next few weeks.
October 26, 2018
Blog
THE HIGH COST OF PROCESSING YOUR OWN ENERGY INVOICES
An independent study recently calculated the cost of processing a single energy
invoice at $13.04. A line item under $20 probably won’t catch the attention of
the finance director, but a deeper look into missed benefits and opportunities
elevates the priority.
October 30, 2018
Blog
THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT VPPAS
What’s in your sustainability playbook? Purchasing renewable energy from a local
provider, reducing overall energy consumption and installing distributed
renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, should all be
considered as part of a holistic approach to energy and environmental impact.
November 14, 2018
Blog
U.S. NATURAL GAS PRICES SPIKE TO LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE 2014
Closing Wednesday at $4.84 per MMBtu, prompt-month natural gas prices have
soared to their highest levels since 2014. Despite the multi-year high levels,
this move wasn’t totally unexpected and Trane has been warning clients about the
possibility of a winter price run-up since signs started pointing that direction
in the summer months.
November 16, 2018
Blog
4 QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE YOUR EQUIPMENT UPGRADE STRATEGY
You may be at a crossroads between replacing or retrofitting your building’s
HVAC equipment due to age. We know this because the U.S. Energy Information
Administration has reported that nearly half of all commercial buildings were
constructed before 1980.1
December 11, 2018
Blog
AN UPDATE ON PG&E'S BANKRUPTCY
Based in San Francisco, PG&E is the largest utility in the nation. It provides
electric and natural gas services to 16 million customers across a 70,000 square
mile area of northern and central California.
February 12, 2019
Blog
HERE’S WHAT YOU MISSED AT THE 2019 AHR EXPO
Didn't make it to the 2019 AHR Expo or just want to re-live the excitement?
Check out our booth tour video and read about booth highlights from this year's
show.
February 20, 2019
Blog
WOMEN IN HVAC: HOW WE ARE CLOSING THE GENDER AND JOB CANDIDATE GAPS
The calendar just closed on the 2019 celebration of International Women’s Day.
With a new flood of college graduates poised to hit the job market, our leaders
remain focused on encouraging increased representation of women in heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) jobs.
April 24, 2019
Blog
DUCTLESS BLOG, TWO OR THREE PIPE
After you’ve decided variable refrigerant flow (VRF) is the best HVAC solution
for your building, you’re tasked with another important decision: do you choose
two- or three-pipe technology? The answer can depend on many variables,
including the building application, architecture and age, to name a few.
May 24, 2019
Blog
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGE?
As the dynamic HVAC industry continues to grow and change, it finds itself faced
with a growing skilled labor shortage.
May 30, 2019
Blog
ASHRAESETSNEWSUBBASE
Business values are driving even greater progress
June 28, 2019
Blog
ACHIEVING THE WATER-ENERGY CONSERVATION “SWEET SPOT"
While the focus on climate change has driven reduced energy consumption,
attention to water conservation is increasing because fresh water supplies are
diminishing. At the current consumption rate, this situation will only get
worse.
July 30, 2019
Blog
THE FUTURE OF DATA CENTER ENERGY USE
It’s one of the biggest paradoxes of our time: The world needs to build more
energy-intensive data centers to meet growing demand. Meanwhile, it has become
imperative to reduce carbon emissions to put the brakes on climate change. It’s
both a challenge and an opportunity to introduce technologies that could
transform building energy use forever—across all sectors—including machine
learning and artificial intelligence.
October 07, 2019
Blog
COMFORT VS PRECISION COOLING
Data centers and computer rooms are being built everywhere to accommodate the
rapidly increasing demand for data processing. Too often, systems that are
designed to manage human comfort are being applied to data centers, and they
simply aren’t up to the task. Using a comfort system where precision cooling is
required inevitably results in unplanned downtime, excessively high energy
costs, and diminished ROI due to shortened equipment life.
October 07, 2019
Blog
CONTINGENCY PLANNING
No matter what industry you are in, it is critical to develop a power and HVAC
contingency plan as part of a comprehensive crisis-response plan. Interruptions
to power and HVAC – whether from a natural disaster or other challenges – can
cause millions of dollars in damage, disrupt operations and erode stakeholder
confidence. Developing an effective power and HVAC contingency plan minimizes
financial risk, while protecting the health and safety of building occupants and
providing peace of mind for an organization and its stakeholders.
October 18, 2019
Blog
AIR VS. WATER COOLED CHILLERS
Data centers and computer rooms are being built everywhere to accommodate the
rapidly increasing demand for data processing. Too often, systems that are
designed to manage human comfort are being applied to data centers, and they
simply aren’t up to the task. Using a comfort system where precision cooling is
required inevitably results in unplanned downtime, excessively high energy
costs, and diminished ROI due to shortened equipment life.
October 31, 2019
Blog
ENERGY COST SAVING METHODS FOR DATA CENTERS
When data centers want to reduce non-IT energy costs, there is no single
solution. Many strategies come to mind, and the best one…depends. It depends on
utility rate structures, local climate and natural resources, and on the type of
IT equipment and how the center is laid out. Experienced HVAC system designers
begin with energy efficient base equipment—and then we get creative. Many of the
available solutions for reducing energy costs aren’t new, but we’re finding new
ways to apply them to reduce the energy intensity of data centers.
November 04, 2019
Blog
DESIGNING AN HVAC SYSTEN WHEN YOUR BUILDING OCCUPANTS ARE GREEN
Green plants, such as lettuce, kale, basil, and other crops, are being grown by
indoor agriculture producers around the world. Maintaining an optimal
environment is just as important when plants are grown indoors as when they are
outside.
November 15, 2019
Blog
APPROACHING ZERO ENERGY
Zero energy building growth has increased by 700 percent since 2012 and revenue
from these buildings is expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2035. Buildings with
the greatest flexibility can offer multiple benefits to the grid and to the
owners and managers of those buildings.
November 21, 2019
Blog
THE BENEFITS OF WIRELESS CONTROLS FOR CONNECTED BUILDINGS
Zero energy building growth has increased by 700 percent since 2012 and revenue
from these buildings is expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2035. Buildings with
the greatest flexibility can offer multiple benefits to the grid and to the
owners and managers of those buildings.
December 10, 2019
Blog
ENERGY STORAGE: TRANSFORMING HOW WE USE-- AND PAY FOR-- ENERGY
Energy storage may be the technology that fundamentally changes the grid. It’s
important to know that buildings have two types of energy loads, electric and
thermal, and each one has an optimal storage method.
December 13, 2019
Blog
AHR EXPO 2020: SUSTAINABILITY IS THE NEW REALITY
Sustainability is becoming more deeply embedded into every aspect of business
and buildings. Looking back at AHR Expo® 2020 last week in Orlando, we’re
feeling proud of the way our industry has stepped up to the challenge.
February 14, 2020
Blog
8 REASONS CONTRACTORS SHOULD EMBRACE VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOW (VRF)
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are an increasingly popular choice
regardless of a building’s size or intended use. VRF systems focus on heating
and cooling only the spaces that require individual temperature control by
circulating the optimal amount of refrigerant required for each zone, resulting
in advantages with system operation and occupancy comfort.
June 17, 2020
Blog
WORLD REFRIGERATION DAY: HONORING OUR CLIMATE
Although we honor June 26 as World Refrigeration Day, focusing on refrigeration
– and the sustainability opportunities it offers – is a year-round emphasis for
us at Trane. Through our enterprise-wide climate commitment, we are directly
addressing climate change by offering alternatives to the way the world heats
and cools buildings and moves refrigerated cargo.
June 26, 2020
Blog
PREPARING YOUR DISTRICT: THE ABCS OF OPTIMIZING INDOOR AIR QUALITY
As a school administrator, you are already well aware there are no easy answers
regarding the best way to re-open schools. While there is heavy focus on the
importance of masking and surface cleaning, even more important is addressing
your schools’ indoor air quality (IAQ) to meet appropriate and ever-evolving
guidelines.
July 27, 2020
Blog
IAQ CAN’T WAIT. FEDERAL FUNDING CAN HELP SCHOOLS MOVE FORWARD.
Available grant money may provide the funding schools need to improve air flow,
filtration and air cleaning technology that can help mitigate the spread of
airborne pathogens,
October 13, 2020
Blog
SEVEN WAYS TO MINIMIZE INSTALLATION RISK WITH TRANE® / MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC VRF
SYSTEMS
When it comes to VRF installation, risk management is crucial. Contractors want
to know their partners have the experience and information to help guide them
from system installation to building opening. That’s why Trane offers a one-stop
solution that includes a vast product portfolio featuring Trane® / Mitsubishi
Electric VRF technology, backed by the knowledge and expertise of industry
leaders.
October 20, 2020
Blog
20,000 BUILDINGS AND NEARLY 1 MILLION PIECES OF EQUIPMENT
With HVAC demand expected to triple by 2050, connected buildings that
incorporate digital controls will play a crucial role in ensuring ongoing
efficient energy management and sustainable building operations
October 26, 2020
Blog
NOW IS THE TIME TO OPTIMIZE YOUR BUILDING’S GRID RESILIENCY
Learn how you can get ahead of future strains on the power grid – whether due to
temperature spikes, intermittent or variable renewable resources, or raging wild
fires Discover why and how to optimize your building’s grid resiliency from
systems, services and controls to energy sources.
October 27, 2020
Blog
3 WAYS TRANE’S TRACER® SC+ CONTROLS PROVIDE OUTSTANDING EFFICIENCY FOR YOUR VRF
SYSTEM
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) technology is becoming an increasingly common
choice for commercial HVAC projects through its ability to provide outstanding
efficiencies to not only the end user, but to engineers as well as contractors.
Trane® / Mitsubishi Electric is uniquely positioned to offer complete VRF system
solutions, including all VRF and ductless equipment, an integrated controls
platform, Tracer® SC+ and industry-leading expertise you can rely on.
November 02, 2020
Blog
AVOID THE FILTER FRENZY: TAKE A METHODICAL APPROACH TO IAQ
More popular than “toilet paper in April.” That’s how a recent CNBC story
described the current shortage in high quality air filtration systems, many of
which are currently back ordered. Due to COVID-19 and the subsequent ASHRAE®
guidance to upgrade filtration to MERV 13 or greater, demand for MERV 13 pleated
filters has hit unprecedented levels. Complicating this demand, both MERV 13
pleated filters and high-demand N95 masks depend on the same media: high
electrostatic non-woven polypropylene fiber.
November 04, 2020
Blog
COLD AHEAD: PREPARE YOUR FACILITY NOW
With 2020 driving unprecedented demands – at work and home – you may not yet
have prepared your building for colder days. There’s still time! Here are a few
tips and recommendations from Trane® building professionals that can help you
save energy and lower your utility bills during the colder months ahead.
November 11, 2020
Blog
LOWERING EMISSIONS IN THE NORTHEAST: KEY STRATEGY FOR A NEW, SUSTAINABLE GRID
The trend to decarbonize is transforming the U.S. power grid. The grid
increasingly depends less upon fossil fuels and more upon distributed energy
resources or technologies such as solar photovoltaic and offshore wind alongside
new energy efficiency, demand response, energy storage and other customer-based
technologies.
November 18, 2020
Blog
EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLANNING: KEY BEST PRACTICES
It’s critical for organizations to have an effective, proactive power and HVAC
contingency plan in place. Not only can it reduce financial risk, the
contingency plan can help protect the health and safety of building occupants
and increase peace of mind for the organization and its stakeholders.
December 01, 2020
Blog
COMMERCIAL INDOOR AIR QUALITY: BEST PRACTICES AND TRENDS
With COVID-19-related cases continuing across the nation, many businesses remain
focused on safely operating and maintaining their buildings. In some cases,
small changes are making big improvements and in others, long-term building
health is getting much-needed attention.
December 10, 2020
Blog
INTRODUCING: WELLSPHERE™, TRANE’S HOLISTIC APPROACH TO BUILDING WELLNESS
To support building owners and others navigating this new IEQ era, Trane
recently launched the Wellsphere platform. Designed to offer high-level thinking
around IEQ, Wellsphere is our holistic approach to building wellness.
December 17, 2020
Blog
SHUTDOWN READY – IDENTIFY YOUR BEST BUILDING CONNECTIVITY-LEVEL
Imagine being able to hit one “shutdown” button, to manage the process of
preparing those dozens, hundreds or even thousands of facilities for a shutdown.
A manager responsible for approximately 200 retail facilities, most of them
including commercial kitchens, for example, recently became the envy of his
fellow facility managers when he shared during a pandemic update that he was
able to do just that: complete what was essentially a “one-button shutdown.”
January 04, 2021
Blog
HOW FUNDING SOLUTIONS CAN HELP SCHOOLS IMPROVE AIR QUALITY OF CLASSROOMS
Schools, including K-12 institutions, can now take advantage of more than $80
billion in funding within the Education Stabilization Fund to improve their
learning environment — including optimizing their indoor air quality (IAQ).
January 15, 2021
Blog
THREE WAYS SCHOOLS CAN FUND INDOOR AIR QUALITY INVESTMENTS TODAY
We know you want to get students back into classrooms as safely and as quickly
as possible — and keep them there safely — and we want to help you through this
monumental effort.
January 28, 2021
Blog
EXPAND YOUR EXPERTISE ON HEALTHY AND EFFICIENT SPACES
As 2021 unfolds, it may be safe to say that indoor environments have never
received quite as much attention as they have now, particularly the
environmental quality of enclosed spaces. People who may not have previously
recognized the value of your role in the building industry might now be showing
greater appreciation, or even pelting you with questions.
February 04, 2021
Blog
NO SILVER BULLETS FOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY
In the past year we have faced many challenges, not the least of which has been
a global health crisis which continues to take its toll on our communities. The
pandemic has raised awareness of the general indoor air quality (IAQ) topic,
including not only aspects related to pathogens like the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but
also aspects related to other contaminants (dust, allergens, volatile organic
compounds, etc.). People were already spending almost 95% of their time in
enclosed spaces , and this percentage became even higher with the pandemic, so
IAQ and the technologies that can preserve or improve it have taken center
stage.
March 08, 2021
Blog
TRANE OFFERS NEW COLD STORAGE OPTION TO BOOST VACCINE EFFORT
As vaccine manufacturers continue to roll out COVID-19 vaccines, thousands of
health care networks, hospitals, and large and small pharmacy groups around the
world are working to properly receive and house the critical cargo, which has
unique and specific cold storage requirements.
March 18, 2021
Blog
IS YOUR BUILDING WELL?
In response, many building owners, managers and tenants are seeking validation
through independent healthy building certifications and recognition. One of the
leading organizations in the field is the International Well Building Institute®
(IWBI). As a proud member of the IWBI, Trane® is actively engaged with the
organization. We are sharing research and latest innovations, working together
to solve today’s IEQ challenges.
April 16, 2021
Blog
ARE YOU PRIORITIZING IAQ EFFICIENTLY?
The importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) has truly changed. IAQ is now seen as
a critical factor in determining the overall health of your building and
addressing the well-being of those who occupy it. Even prior to 2020, EPA
studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicated that indoor levels of
pollutants may be two to five times higher than outdoor levels.
April 22, 2021
Blog
THREE-STEP APPROACH HELPS SCHOOL DISTRICT OPEN CLASSROOMS QUICKLY
Re-opening schools required improving indoor air quality (IAQ) to mitigate
health risks for a safer in-person learning environment. Located in an
industrial center that generates airborne particulates and odors that preclude
opening windows, the district also faced budgetary constraints. Additionally,
the district’s outdated (HVAC) heating, ventilation and air conditioning system
couldn’t support use of ASHRAE®-recommended MERV 13 filters.
April 29, 2021
Blog
POWERING UP INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN NEW YORK STATE SCHOOLS
The COVID-19 pandemic marked the beginning of changes for in-person learning and
activities the likes of which have never been seen before in the State of New
York. As thousands of K-12 schools closed and students, families and staff
prepared for self-quarantine and limited social interactions, superintendents
were confronted with complex and, in some cases, conflicting challenges.
May 10, 2021
Blog
K-12 RENTAL PROGRAMS: SHORT-TERM AGILITY IN AN EMERGENCY
A broken HVAC chiller. Mold issues. 500 students needing to return to school.
The pressures around managing aging schools are never-ending and are further
complicated when buildings close due to faulty or broken systems. For an Alabama
elementary school, this was a reality. A two-month replacement lead time only
made it worse.
May 11, 2021
Blog
MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE
As we begin to transition into a post-pandemic world, indoor air quality (IAQ)
continues to be a central focus for us, our customers and the world. While
people collectively consider how and when to safely return to buildings,
addressing airborne health risks in indoor spaces is a top priority.
May 17, 2021
Blog
BRING THE OUTDOORS IN WITH OPTIMIZED VENTILATION
“It’s more than good food that will bring customers back inside,” Greg DuChane,
Trane Restaurant Vertical market leader and engineer said. “Restaurants will
need to ensure both their employees and customers feel confident indoors. People
are ready to dine again and ensuring worry-free dining will be a key marketing
strategy in many areas.”
May 24, 2021
Blog
CREATING COMFORT THROUGH HUMIDITY CONTROL
Life is slowly returning to normal, as more and more people are coming together
in their favorite eating places. For restaurant owners and facility managers
this uptick in indoor dining is a good sign after taking a $240 billion hit from
pandemic shutdowns1. For many, recovery will take years. But that recovery is
happening, which is why many building owners and facility managers are working
to ensure they are creating inviting, comfortable dining spaces where customers
can breathe easy.
June 07, 2021
Blog
CREATING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT FOR DINING EXPERIENCES
Restaurant owners and facility managers are among many who know how to deliver
on cleaner environments. Their businesses are built on it and can easily be shut
down because of it. Creating a worry-free dining experience and communicating
that dedication to customers is fast becoming a marketing tactic to help obtain
and keep customers.
June 25, 2021
Blog
FIVE TIPS TO NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITY OF OPEN SYSTEM BUILDING CONTROLS
When it comes to building automation systems, not all uses of the term “open
system” are equal. The following tips can help you identify the most critical
open system capabilities so you can make an informed decision for your building
or project’s needs.When it comes to building automation systems, not all uses of
the term “open system” are equal. The following tips can help you identify the
most critical open system capabilities so you can make an informed decision for
your building or project’s needs.
Chuck Lehn July 09, 2021
Blog
KEEP THE BALANCE: MONITORING YOUR BUILDING’S IEQ
The 2020 pandemic magnified that buildings — along with the operations they
house — are vulnerable to unseen health threats. Now more than ever, addressing
people’s confidence and comfort inside a building can be core to business
success and a vital part of a building’s value proposition, and its
marketability. Taking the right long-term approach to your building’s indoor
environmental quality (IEQ) can help you ensure your building’s wellness, and
more importantly, the well-being of its occupants.
July 09, 2021
Blog
NAVIGATING FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THE ENERGY LANDSCAPE
Chances are you’ve heard about decarbonization and electrification: two
six-syllable words that may sound like a weird new diet. They are in a way – but
for fossil fuel consumption, not calories. And engineers and building owners
should be paying attention.
July 14, 2021
Blog
5 WAYS TO BOOST PEACE OF MIND ABOUT IN-PERSON LEARNING
School systems across the country displayed superhuman creativity and resolve to
make distance learning possible during the pandemic. Despite the herculean
effort, 97% of educators believe students have suffered at least some learning
disruption, with more than half believing that loss was significant1. In-person
learning remains the most productive K12 educational environment.
July 19, 2021
Blog
5 GREAT REASONS TO ASSESS INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY – AND 1 BAD REASON.
If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s the importance indoor environmental
quality (IEQ) has on the comfort and well-being of people inside. It’s been an
issue for a lot longer, though. So long, it even has a name: Sick Building
Syndrome. Sick Building Syndrome is a condition affecting office workers
attributed to poorly managed facilities or stressful factors in the working
environment such as poor ventilation.
July 22, 2021
Blog
DRIVE CUSTOMERS IN AND ODORS OUT – IS YOUR RESTAURANT PROPERLY PRESSURIZED?
Our sense of smell has been a powerful motivator throughout human history. This
natural olfactory instinct can drive the decisions we make - whether they’re
good, bad or indifferent. So, when it comes to restaurants and kitchens, help
ensure customers only get the very best of the smells in your building.
July 22, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN EXPERT: IEQ AND BACK TO SCHOOL
Many schools realized that their systems, particularly mechanical and HVAC
systems, were not capable of handling the CDC- and ASHRAE-recommended
modifications during the pandemic, such as increasing outdoor air. Especially in
the Northeast, systems are not built to handle 100 percent outdoor air in the
dead of winter. Therefore, it made schools consider more holistic and creative
ways of preparing their classrooms for teachers and students, such as air
cleaners or better controls strategies.
Morgan Perras July 28, 2021
Video
HOW ARE SCHOOLS USING FEDERAL FUNDING? HEAR FROM 3 SUPERINTENDENTS.
We talked with 3 superintendents from around the country to learn how their
school districts are leveraging federal funding to improve building
infrastructure for the upcoming school year and beyond.
August 04, 2021
Video
ARE STIMULUS FUNDS A GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY? HEAR FROM 3 SUPERINTENDENTS.
We talked with 3 superintendents from around the country about how federal
stimulus funds offer an opportunity to upgrade facilities in ways that will
leave a lasting positive impact for generations to come.
August 04, 2021
Video
WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES? HEAR FROM 3 SUPERINTENDENTS.
We talked with 3 superintendents from around the country about the many
long-term benefits of thoughtful infrastructure improvements, specifically for
students today and of future generations.
August 04, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN EXPERT: IEQ AND BACK TO SCHOOL
Insight from an expert: IEQ and back to school
Denise Chavez August 11, 2021
Customer Story
VRF: THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR CORE FITNESS
When CORE Fitness in Providence, Rhode Island, began transforming an old
brownstone into an upscale fitness center they turned to Coldmasters and Trane.
Specializing in cycling, weight training and boxing classes, CORE knows the
importance of bringing individualized comfort to its clients.
August 16, 2021
Blog
IEQ: WHAT'S NOW, WHAT'S NEW AND WHAT'S NEXT
Hear from Scott Huffmaster, North America Sales Leader for Healthy Spaces with
Trane, as he talks about what’s now, what’s new and what’s next for IEQ.
Scott Huffmaster August 17, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN ENGINEER: DESIGNING FOR HEALTHIER SPACES
It’s important for building designers to understand what owners desire when they
ask for healthier spaces. In addition to this, owners may have specific
acoustical and lighting requests. Designing for healthier spaces is more
holistic, meaning everything from temperature, humidity, air cleanliness,
acoustics, and lighting, are considered.
Eric Sturm August 18, 2021
Blog
3 WAYS FACILITIES MANAGERS CAN PARTNER WITH SUPERINTENDENTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS
The current education stimulus funding represents the United States’
largest-ever investment in infrastructure upgrade opportunities for K-12
schools. (Source) These unprecedented stimulus funds can be leveraged for
facility upgrades including indoor air quality improvements. As the district’s
trusted facility advisor, one of the most important things you can do is help
your school make the right decisions when it comes to funding district needs.
August 25, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN EXPERT: IEQ AND BACK TO SCHOOL
Cameron Griffith offers 15 years of energy services consulting experience
helping customers leverage their buildings to meet improve their business
performance. Cameron helps building owners meet or exceed business outcomes,
using buildings as a resource to maximize asset potential.
Cameron Griffith September 23, 2021
Blog
ANNUAL SCHOOL FACILITY FUNDING GAP GROWS TO $85 BILLION
A new report from the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), State of Our
Schools 2021, shows a projected annual shortfall of $85 billion in annual U.S.
K-12 public school facility funding, despite significant local and state efforts
to deliver healthy and safe public-school buildings. This shortfall represents a
nearly 80 percent increase since 2016 according to the report by the 21st
Century School Fund, IWBI and the National Council on School Facilities.
September 08, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN ENGINEER: DESIGNING FOR HEALTHIER SPACES
There is not a silver bullet when addressing IEQ or IAQ issues. Every building
is different, and every customer is different. It is important to assess each
building to determine existing conditions of the space. It is also important to
understand key factors from the customer (efficacy against pathogens, energy
efficiency, mold/mildew mitigation, improved productivity, comfort issues,
etc.). Most projects require a layered approach to meet the unique needs of the
customer and their building’s current state.
Jeff Wiseman September 09, 2021
Blog
THERE’S MORE TO INDOOR COMFORT THAN TEMPERATURE
Multiple studies have shown that the more comfortable people are, the more
productive they become. Some applications, like healthcare, retail stores,
grocery stores, and schools may have unique requirements related to one or more
of the thermal comfort parameters for the comfort of the people – or food –
inside their buildings.
Eric Sturm September 14, 2021
Blog
GET SMART: HOW TO USE ENERGY CONTRACTING TO YOUR SCHOOL'S ADVANTAGE
How can schools leverage tomorrow’s energy savings to fund today’s K-12 school
building improvements — and what risks are associated with these types of
projects? Join Dr. Timothy Unruh, Executive Director for the National
Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO®), as he dives into the ins and
outs of this funding vehicle known as an energy savings performance contract.
September 16, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN EXPERT: DESIGNING FOR HEALTHIER SPACES
Typically when people think of “healthier indoor spaces” they are referring to
the filtration or other air cleaning technologies. What many people don’t
realize is that the health of their spaces is so much more that that. It starts
with thermal comfort, ie the temperature and humidity in the space. ASHRAE has
tons of research that shows that there are optimal ranges for temperature and
humidity to keep occupants comfortable and prevent the spread of viruses,
bacteria and other microbials.
Tyler Malm September 21, 2021
Blog
IT’S ELEMENTARY: IAQ MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING MATTER IN SCHOOLS
Even well before the global pandemic, researchers reported that maintaining
proper indoor air quality (IAQ) can help reduce absenteeism, affect test scores,
and enhance student and staff perceptions of productivity. According to a
literature review published in 2005 in Indoor Air Journal , evidence suggests
that poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in schools is common and adversely
influences the performance and attendance of students, primarily through health
effects from indoor pollutants.
September 28, 2021
Blog
GET SMART ON THE STATE OF THE SCHOOLS: AMERICA'S K–12 FACILITIES
Why has the U.S. PK-12 school facilities’ funding gap increased to a staggering
$85 billion a year — when the learning environment is more critical than ever —
and what can be done about it? Join Mary Filardo, Executive Director of the 21st
Century School Fund and Rachel Hodgdon, CEO of the International Well Building
Institute®, as they delve into their organizations’ 2021 State of Our Schools
Report.
September 30, 2021
Blog
OPEN DISTRIBUTION IN BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS
When it comes to building automation systems, not all uses of the term “open
system” are equal. When talking about open systems, definitions typically fall
into three categories: open distribution, open protocols, and open service. This
blog explores open distribution.
Andrew Disher October 04, 2021
Blog
6 WAYS TO MAKE HVAC SYSTEMS AS GREEN AS CAN BE
Technology and material advancements have been making buildings consistently
more sustainable for decades. Some of what’s possible is truly remarkable. There
are solutions readily available today that can reduce emissions while paying
back building owners with financial benefits.
October 01, 2021
Blog
GET SMART ON TECHNICAL CAREER PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS: INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION
PARTNERSHIPS
How has technical education changed and why should parents, students, businesses
and communities consider a technical career pathway an important opportunity?
October 14, 2021
Blog
RIVER TRAILS SCHOOL DISTRICT 26 AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY
COMMITMENTS
Prairie Trails School is on track to save more than $32,000 a year in annual gas
and electricity costs while offering optimized indoor air quality and reliable,
energy efficient performance.
October 14, 2021
Blog
INSIGHTS FROM AN EXPERT: IEQ AND BACK TO SCHOOL
As part of a holistic approach to building wellness, an energy service company
such as Trane can help school leaders access unprecedented funding currently
available to optimize indoor spaces in schools. Additionally, Trane can help
leaders prepare a long-term replacement strategy should they be hit with a
natural disaster or other surprises.
Jason Turner October 15, 2021
Blog
3 WAYS COLLEGES ARE USING STIMULUS AND SAVINGS TO CREATE HEALTHIER, MORE
PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES
In response to COVID’s impact on our schools nationwide, the U.S. Department of
Education has stepped in to provide an unprecedented amount of funding as part
of its American Rescue Plan (ARP). Through this funding, community colleges
around the nation received over $40 billion in Higher Education Emergency Relief
Funding (HEERF III) to address the financial burden faced by institutions of
higher learning and students alike.
October 29, 2021
Blog
GET SMART ON EFFICIENT AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS FROM RESEARCH TO PRACTICE
Join Anisa Heming, Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green
Building Council, and Wanyu Rengie Chan, Ph.D, Healthy Schools Research
Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, as they unpack the
latest studies and best practices in IEQ for K-12 school buildings.
October 28, 2021
Blog
OPEN SYSTEMS IN BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
A communication protocol is a set of rules used to share data. An open protocol
means the communication rules are publicly available. Using an open protocol is
a good first step but can become complicated if a single vendor owns the
protocol. That vendor could keep some of the features for only their products,
making it less open than would first appear. Or worse, the vendor may change the
protocol leaving existing systems in a state where an upgrade may break existing
interoperability.
Chuck Lehn November 03, 2021
Blog
A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FINDS A NEW COMMUNITY AND A SECOND CAREER IN THE TRADES
Haley Whiting is an apprentice pipefitter in Chicago – Union Local 597. She’s
been working in the trades for nearly five years and, in her early 30s, is one
of the older apprentices. Her career started off in one direction before the
construction industry finally found her.
November 08, 2021
Blog
GET SMART ON CREATING PRODUCTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Join podcast host, Portia Mount, vice president of marketing at Trane, and three
guests from leading global design and architecture firm, Corgan — David Euscher,
vice president; Sangeetha Karthik, associate principal; and AJ Sustaita, vice
president — who wake up every morning thinking about how to create the best K-12
learning environments. These education design experts share an industry
insider’s view as they lay out how to create effective and inclusive educational
spaces for today’s highly engaged students.
November 11, 2021
Blog
6 WAYS FOR INDOOR AGRICULTURE TO GROW SUSTAINABILITY
Precisely maintained indoor environments make indoor growing operations highly
efficient. They consume up to 95% less water, use less fertilizer and pesticide
and are hundreds of times more productive per square foot compared to
traditional farming methods. And growers don’t need to worry about Mother Nature
spoiling the harvest.
November 17, 2021
Blog
HOW TRANE CAN HELP INDOOR GROWERS OPTIMIZE OPERATIONS AND REDUCE ENERGY COSTS
Fundamentally, it’s an HVAC challenge. Like data centers and hospital operating
rooms, commercial grow rooms are critical environments that require precise
indoor climate conditions to successfully perform their mission. It’s important
for growers to partner with a provider that is familiar with the challenges
high-stakes environments face and has the energy-efficiency expertise to support
them.
November 23, 2021
Blog
GETTING TO LOW CARBON BUILDINGS WITH THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE
This year, there has been a lot of news around thermal energy storage as a way
to reduce carbon emissions, and for good reason. Read more for two of the latest
trends.
December 20, 2021
Blog
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE ENGINEERS NEWSLETTER
Since its inception, Trane® has strived to provide objective and useful
information to engineers and contractors. Early examples include numerous
bulletins covering new systems and equipment. In addition, the company began
publishing the Trane Air Conditioning Manual in 1938.
Eric Sturm January 11, 2022
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