Step 1: Collect Information To Inform Our Conversation
Data around your needs, building, equipment and local regulations/incentives is gathered to start understanding your school and current situation.
Decarbonization Strategies for K-12 Schools
Reducing carbon emissions to create healthier, more productive learning environments.
Decarbonization is the process of implementing building solutions that prevent or reduce carbon gasses from being released into the atmosphere. Doing so can help lay the foundation for state-of-the-art comfort systems, improved facilities and more cost-effective, energy-efficient operations. With so many competing needs and unique challenges, it can be hard to know where or when to start shrinking your carbon footprint.
At Trane, we meet with you where you are on your low-carbon journey and partner with you to address your school's most pressing needs—for the benefit of your bottom line, learning objectives and the environment.
Federal funding can go towards your school's decarbonization process.
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Why Decarbonization Is Important
Decarbonization can reduce carbon emissions and operating expenses while keeping you ahead of change. Here’s how your decarbonization process can benefit your school:
- Increase energy conservation and maximize cost savings
- Invest taxpayer dollars and government grants responsibly
- Avoid unnecessary maintenance costs
- Make classrooms more productive
- Position your school as an energy leader in your district
- Support a more sustainable community
- Promote a cleaner planet and brighter future
How to Decarbonize Your School Building
Whether it’s for new construction or retrofitting your existing building, Trane can partner with you on individualized, low-carbon solutions in four steps:
Step 2: Assess Your Goals
Your aspirations, motivations and constraints are fully understood through thought-provoking, data-backed questions.
Step 3: Advise on a Plan for Decarbonizing
Based on the decarbonization outcomes that matter most to you, we recommend a strategic, measurable and tactic-driven plan that’s backed by our operational and energy expertise.
Step 4: Implement and Deliver on Decarbonization
You receive individualized solutions with validated results, helping you achieve your goals now and in the future.
A Real-Life Decarbonization Snapshot
Kaneland Community Unit School District knew they wanted to reduce their energy costs by using taxpayers’ dollars wisely, but they didn’t want a project that would require major capital spending. Trane partnered with them to pursue a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) so they could fund the project without a heavy up-front investment. Kaneland Community Unit School District used this agreement to install Solar PV systems. Since project completion in 2021, the district has saved over 3.175 GWh, which is equivalent to planting over 140 acres of trees.
Decarbonization Pillars
Trane approaches your school’s decarbonization process through four essential pillars: energy efficiency, electrification, refrigerant management and renewable energy. These key ways to decarbonize can solve for a wide range of building and energy challenges.
Upgrade your low-carbon HVAC, lighting, boilers, furnaces and more with hybrid electrified equipment, or aim for total building electrification.
Remotely regulate temperatures while transitioning away from high-GWP, or Global Warming Potential, options.
Transition to producing and using emissions-free electricity sources, like solar and wind, to offset your energy costs and ultimately become a net-zero school.
Decarb 101 & 201 Series
Decarb 101
One of the most important aspects of sustainability today is decarbonization—the process of reducing carbon gases from being released into the atmosphere. Find out how Trane addresses decarbonization from four different angles.
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Decarb 201
Our decarb expert talks about energy efficiency, electrification of heat, building automation systems and more. There are many ways to make HVAC systems more sustainable. Funding is still available to cover the costs.
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Financing and Energy Services Contracting
To maximize your investment, help you decarbonize responsibly and save you money in the future, we base our financial services on our local and community connections.
Government grants can make your decarbonization efforts more effective.
The Gigaton Challenge
We’re on a mission to eliminate 1 Billion mCO2 (one gigaton of carbon) from customers’ footprints by 2030. Click below to learn more about Trane’s Gigaton Challenge.
Resources & Insights
Customer Stories
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Customer Story
A collaboration between Knox County Schools and Trane saves the district more than $74 million. The partnership resulted in energy improvements to 90 schools, including updated HVAC systems, controls, LED lighting, and more. -
Empowering HVAC Education: Northeast Community College's Transformational Journey
Join Northeast Community College on its transformative journey to enhance HVAC education and equip students with industry-relevant skills. Partnering with Trane and the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), the college established a state-of-the-art HVAC teaching lab. Discover how the collaboration revamped the curriculum, provided hands-on learning with Trane equipment, and trained instructors through the NC3 Train-the-Trainer program. -
Bridging the Skills Gap: Hill College's HVAC Training Lab & Industry Partnership
Chartered under the name of Hillsboro Junior College, Hill College was the first junior college in the state of Texas, enrolling its first students in 1923. Today, the college provides high quality comprehensive educational programs and services to enhance the educational, cultural, and economic development of students and the community. The college’s Cleburne extension includes six buildings and has more than 1,000 students enrolled in day and night classes. -
Preparing Tomorrow's Workforce: WSU Tech's Advanced HVAC Training Lab
Discover how WSU Tech, a leading technical college, addressed the challenge of outdated HVAC equipment and curriculum to attract new students and meet industry demands. By partnering with Trane and the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), WSU Tech established a state-of-the-art Climate and Energy Control Technologies Lab, equipped with high-efficiency Trane HVAC systems and advanced controls technologies. -
Optimizing Indoor Environmental Quality at Gateway Technical College
Gateway Technical College in Southeastern Wisconsin successfully optimized indoor environmental quality (IEQ) to create a safe and comfortable learning environment for 20,000 students returning to in-person classes in fall 2021. By partnering with Trane and implementing Synexis in-room devices that utilize Dry Hydrogen Peroxide (DHP) technology, the college reduced viruses, bacteria, mold, and odors in the air and on surfaces.
Blog Articles
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Blog
Trane BTU Crew Turns Your School into a Living-Learning Energy Lab
When K-12 students learn about science, technology and math (STEM) at school, that early exposure increases their interest in pursuing STEM careers . That’s why we developed the BTU Crew - a STEM education program just for K-12 students. -
Every school building has hidden potential. That’s why we look at schools holistically; seeing challenges as opportunities to use energy and financial resources more effectively, to make classrooms better for learning, and to operate more sustainably.
Your Guide on the Decarbonization Journey
No matter what you’re considering for your decarbonization journey, or where you consider yourself to be on it, Trane can be your localized expert. As a leading decarbonization company, we’ve worked with over 30% of schools in the U.S., and we can guide you on a path towards less carbon reliance too.