Page 35 - Green Builder July-August 2020 Issue
P. 35
Trane
Technologies
With most early goals met, this heating and cooling industry giant makes
even bigger commitments for 2030.
OW, IT’S TIME fOR ROUND TWO.
In
, the phrase “climate change” was finally
being recognized as a legitimate, global term related
to the environment. The Paris Agreement, which
N called for participating companies to voluntary reduce
or eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next three
decades, was getting started. In many countries, renewable energy
reached cost parity with fossil fuels. Companies were rst initiating
work within their supply bases to address environmental, social
and governance (ESG) challenges. Diversity and inclusion became
a global imperative, while positive community impact became a
central need for companies. And investors increasingly evaluated
ESG characteristics of the companies they invested in.
Into this new green world stepped Trane Technologies, which in
unveiled its
Climate Commitment. The goal, Trane ocials Trane’s 2030 Commitment is changing every major facet
say, was to become an industry leader in sustainability, and do so of its business: operations, supply chains, employee
by example. “The message was simple,” the company notes. “[We
wanted to] boldly challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world and community development, and governance.
Intentional diversity. and cultivate a sustainable and innovative supply chain.”
The company plans to Trane’s
Climate Commitment called for emissions and waste opportunity for everyone in the workplace and in their communities.
continue with diversity
efforts, hoping to build reductions in several areas, and steady increases in the number of There’s the Gigaton Challenge, which calls for reducing the carbon
upon the 20-plus percent eco-friendly products manufactured from
on, and using less footprint of customers by gigaton, or billion metric tons of
of the workforce that are energy overall than in
. After seven years, the numbers indicate GHGs—equivalent to the annual emissions of Italy, France and the
the high level of progress: United Kingdom combined, by
. Thus far,
million metric tons
women. COURTESY OF TRANE
Trane has avoided million metric tons of its customers’ carbon have been avoided, and Trane customers in more than
countries
emissions, the equivalent of avoiding . coal-red power plants. are buying newer, greener heating and cooling products.
The company has reduced its own operational emissions by The company will also design systems for circularity and transform
percent, enabling it to achieve its Climate Commitment for its supply chain and operations to have a restorative impact on the
operations two years early. environment, including achieving carbon neutral operations, zero
Energy intensity has been reduced by percent. waste to landll, becoming net positive in water use, and obtaining
There’s more to come, according to Paul Camuti, the company’s a
percent absolute reduction in energy consumption.
executive vice president, and chief technology and strategy ocer. There are also a slew of employee-related goals that indirectly tie
“By the numbers, it’s been an incredible story, but what’s most in to sustainability, They call for enhanced diversity in the workforce,
exciting is that now when we evaluate a proposed course of action, gender parity in leadership roles, maintaining world-class safety
we do it through a sustainability lens which reects the strategy and and engagement metrics, and providing wellness o¤erings for a full
vision of our company,” he says. “We ask ourselves, ‘Is it an energy- global population.
and resource-ecient solution that creates value for our customers? “Sustainability is inextricably linked to being a premier-performing
Will it reduce our environmental impact as an organization? Will it company,” Camuti says. “That’s why we will continue to innovate and
contribute to a better world?’” invest in new products, services and solutions to help our customers
People will nd out. Trane’s
Sustainability Commitments set achieve their own sustainability goals…in all these ways and more,
the bar even higher, challenging the company to lead by example, we will continue to create a more sustainable future for the next
collaborate with customers to drive sustainable innovation, and create years and many more years to come.” GB
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