Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Our GHG emissions reporting is comprehensive and extends across the value chain including Scopes 1, 2 and 3. We account for operational, product and fuel-related (fleet) emissions. We design programs and identify improvements in our operations, fleet, and product manufacturing that enable us to reduce emissions and achieve our targets. Each year an independent, third party assures our sustainability data including Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions. Trane Technologies follows an internal assurance process to monitor activity data/material usage and calculated results for operations and fleet sustainability performance. We also performed an annual internal audit to ensure the integrity of our process for collecting product GHG emissions data. 

Our GHG reduction strategy is managed at the enterprise level and is overseen by our Vice President of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS). Key senior leaders are directly involved in establishing year-over-year reduction goals and also the longer-term strategy in how and when we will reach carbon neutrality. Our year-over-year GHG reduction goals are then applied to each strategic business unit and location and monitored monthly through our electronic GHG Dashboard.  

Compared to 2019, in 2020 we reduced our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 54,681 metric tons of CO2e and reduced energy consumption by nearly 8%. We acknowledge that these achievements are in part due to the unusual circumstances as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, which resulted in an unanticipated drop in our energy and GHG footprints. 

Approximately 34% of our operational Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions are from electricity use. Refrigerants, an essential component of many of our products, are also a significant source of emissions. These compounds, also called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), have higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide and account for approximately 40% of our Scope 1 and 2 emissions. 

We continually make improvements in our refrigerant management systems that reduce direct GHG emissions and decrease manufacturing costs. For example, we updated our technical procedures to define key equipment specifications and outline administrative control measures helping to reduce routine leaks and accidental losses for our facilities during manufacturing. These small changes add up to big impacts. Through refrigerant management and transition, we have achieved a 7.3% reduction in operational emissions intensity compared to 2019.

Read about how we manage energy. We have also aligned our public policy advocacy with our ambitions to phase out HFCs and increase energy efficiency.

Approach

We are becoming more efficient in our operations and optimizing our energy use to increase business productivity. Some of our energy efficiency initiatives include optimizing HVAC systems, installing controls and building automation services, eliminating leakage in compressed air systems, upgrading lighting and installing thermal and energy storage systems and converting to low energy footprint manufacturing equipment. We also are purchasing hybrid vehicles as an interim step in electrifying our Service Fleet. 

Our multifaceted strategy to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2030 includes the following focus areas:

• Phasing out of refrigerants with high-global-warming potential
• Finding ways to reduce our energy use to meet the 10% absolute reduction target
• Investing in both on-site renewable energy generation as well as off-site power purchase agreements on our way to achieving our target to operate with 100% of our electricity generated by renewable sources 
• Completing electrification and route optimization of our Service Team’s fleets
• Revamping our manufacturing systems to be less energy intensive through product design for manufacturing
• Installing building automation services to reduce energy waste

We will continue to improve energy efficiency of all owned properties, electrify heating and our vehicle fleet as well as further improve the way we handle our refrigerants while phasing out the high-global-warming potential ones. This will help us to drive our emissions as close to zero as possible. To achieve a neutral balance, we will purchase carbon credits for any direct emissions we cannot eliminate. 

Trane Technologies is committed to achieving carbon neutrality for our Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 2030. We’ll achieve this goal by reducing our direct energy consumption at our factories and for our service fleets; generating or purchasing electricity from wind, solar or other renewable systems; shifting to low-GWP refrigerants in our manufacturing processes; and applying carbon credits for any remaining GHG emissions that cannot be eliminated. 

Trane Technologies has reduced Scope 2 market-based electricity GHG by 43% since 2019, in part due to the COVID-19 shutdowns and the impact on energy usage. We have consistently seen Scope 2 improvements by reducing our electricity usage, contracting with power companies who only supply renewable electricity, installing on-site solar power generation systems, and by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (REC) through virtual power purchase agreements (VPPA). 

Driving down emissions that occur in our value chain is one of our biggest sustainability challenges and opportunities. That’s why we were one of the first companies to set a goal related to the emissions of our products — a goal that was also approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative. 

Other Scope 3 emissions categories, such as waste generated in operations, are not material to our business. Read more in our annual CDP Climate Change questionnaire.

In 2020, the fuel efficiency of our fleet decreased by 2.64% compared to 2019.  Through the process of converting to a hybrid fleet, our fleet fuel efficiency decreased slightly from 16.99 miles per gallon in 2019 to 16.54 miles per gallon in 2020. We placed new vehicles in service in 2020 that have better fuel economy and engine performance compared to large displacement vehicles.

We drove further efficiencies in fleet operations through virtual customer engagement and by fleet telematics. The COVID pandemic also contributed to reduced vehicle miles during 2020. These measures reduced emissions and fuel usage by 6,833 metric tons of GHG emissions, over 700,000 gallons of gasoline, and 58,700 gallons of diesel for 2020 vs 2019.

Our EcoWise portfolio reduces the GHG emissions footprint of our refrigerant-bearing products and offers our customers more sustainable choices. EcoWise products are specifically designed for next-generation, low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants without sacrificing energy efficiency, safety and operating performance.