Latest news with #HollyPaeper
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
An innovative "ice battery" system is being used to cool buildings and lower energy costs
New York — In the heart of Manhattan, four stories below ground, the iconic Eleven Madison skyscraper is being air-conditioned using ice. "There's about 500,000 pounds of ice created every night," said Holly Paeper, president of Trane Technologies, the company responsible for installing the system it calls an ice battery. "And to put that into context, think about three city buses full of ice cubes." The ice battery system freezes water at night when the cost of electricity is low. Then, during the day, when the price is high, the building is cooled with the previous night's ice instead of using expensive electricity. Trane says that this system can lower cooling costs by up to 40%. "So, when everyone else is using their electricity in the middle of July to cool their building or to cool their homes, it's a big draw on the grid," Paeper said. "This building won't draw from that because it made its ice last night." Air conditioning makes up about 20% of energy use in homes and businesses worldwide, according to a 2018 report from the International Energy Agency. But on the hottest days, it can account for more than 70% of electricity use during peak hours, per a 2023 IEA report. "We've done installations at about 4,000 sites globally," Paeper said. "There are six million commercial buildings in the U.S. alone, and a very small fraction of them have installations like this." The problem that scientists like Dr. Patrick Shamberger are trying to solve isn't an overall lack of energy — it's when too many energy consumers are trying to use electricity at the same time, which puts stress on the grid. "We don't want to build a whole bunch of excess power plants to just sit around, never turned on until that hot, hot day in August," said Shamberger, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at Texas A&M. "It's a lot of capital investment that doesn't get used." So, instead of building more power plants, the focus is on storing energy with a system such as ice batteries. But because the process of freezing water uses a lot of energy itself, Shamberger and others are testing new materials that don't need to get as cold as ice, but can still keep buildings cool. "We take water, we add some other elements and molecules to it," Shamberger explained. "And based on the composition, we can control that temperature basically anywhere we want it, in the zero to 20 C range. And that's important, because what might work great here in Texas, maybe it's not the right temperature to store your heat at if you're in Nevada, or in Wisconsin, say." According to an analysis released last month by the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, a Washington, D.C.-based energy advocacy group, home electricity bills in the U.S. this summer are expected to rise to an average of $784 for the summer period, from June through September, up 6.2% from last year's projected average of $737. It marks the highest such average in the 12 years that NEADA has been tracking summer residential cooling. Shamberger said he sees a world where this system can be used to cool homes. "Absolutely, we're a little bit far out, right?" he said.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trane Technologies Becomes First in Industry To Support the MEP 2040 Challenge
Industry-leading endorsement deepens commitment to decarbonization. NORTHAMPTON, MA / / March 26, 2025 / Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator, today announced it is an official supporting organization of the MEP 2040 Challenge, becoming the first company in its industry to endorse the challenge. This industry-leading move expands upon the company's existing collaboration with MEP 2040 to reduce carbon emissions and aligns with Trane Technologies' ambitious 2030 Sustainability Commitments. The challenge, initiated by the Carbon Leadership Forum, is a commitment for MEP firms to achieve net zero operational carbon in their projects by 2030 and embodied carbon by 2040. As a supporting organization, Trane Technologies will actively contribute to the challenge's goals and support MEP firms in working toward their sustainability targets. "We are committed to a green-for-green approach, pioneering innovative solutions that provide exceptional payback while further driving sustainability," said Holly Paeper, president, Commercial HVAC Americas, Trane Technologies. "Our support of the MEP 2040 Challenge underscores our dedication to reducing emissions and embodied carbon across the built environment in support. We look forward to working collaboratively with MEP firms to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future." As a MEP 2040 supporting organization, Trane Technologies will work alongside other MEP firms to provide resources, expertise and innovative solutions to help them achieve their net zero goals. The company's portfolio of energy-efficient commercial HVAC systems, building automation solutions and sustainable refrigerants will play a critical role in reducing operational and embodied carbon emissions in buildings. In 2024, Trane Technologies announced its own commitment to reduce embodied carbon by 40% by 2030, an industry first, building on the Gigaton Challenge, the largest science-based climate commitment of any global company related to product emission reductions within a single decade. Trane Technologies has also pledged to be net-zero by 2050, and its near and long-term emissions reduction targets have been externally validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). "I am delighted to report that Trane Technologies has signed on as a supporting organization for the MEP 2040 Commitment," said Andrew Himes, director of collective impact for the Carbon Leadership Forum. "Trane Technologies is the first company in its industry to join our movement to radically reduce total carbon emissions associated with building systems through collective action. I applaud the company's commitment to innovation and leadership in helping to transform the building industry!" ### About Trane TechnologiesTrane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes, and transportation. For more information, visit About MEP 2040MEP 2040 is a movement to radically reduce total carbon emissions associated with building systems through collective action. In the Fall of 2021, The Carbon Leadership Forum issued a challenge, a group of MEP engineers responded to that challenge by collectively establishing a commitment. Since that time over 80 MEP firms have joined as signatories, actively contributing to the growing body of knowledge through the working groups and quarterly forums. You can learn more about the commitment at View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Trane Technologies on Contact Info:Spokesperson: Trane TechnologiesWebsite: info@ SOURCE: Trane Technologies View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Associated Press
26-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Trane Technologies Becomes First in Industry To Support the MEP 2040 Challenge
March 26, 2025 /3BL/ - Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator, today announced it is an official supporting organization of the MEP 2040 Challenge, becoming the first company in its industry to endorse the challenge. This industry-leading move expands upon the company's existing collaboration with MEP 2040 to reduce carbon emissions and aligns with Trane Technologies' ambitious 2030 Sustainability Commitments. The challenge, initiated by the Carbon Leadership Forum, is a commitment for MEP firms to achieve net zero operational carbon in their projects by 2030 and embodied carbon by 2040. As a supporting organization, Trane Technologies will actively contribute to the challenge's goals and support MEP firms in working toward their sustainability targets. 'We are committed to a green-for-green approach, pioneering innovative solutions that provide exceptional payback while further driving sustainability,' said Holly Paeper, president, Commercial HVAC Americas, Trane Technologies. 'Our support of the MEP 2040 Challenge underscores our dedication to reducing emissions and embodied carbon across the built environment in support. We look forward to working collaboratively with MEP firms to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.' As a MEP 2040 supporting organization, Trane Technologies will work alongside other MEP firms to provide resources, expertise and innovative solutions to help them achieve their net zero goals. The company's portfolio of energy-efficient commercial HVAC systems, building automation solutions and sustainable refrigerants will play a critical role in reducing operational and embodied carbon emissions in buildings. In 2024, Trane Technologies announced its own commitment to reduce embodied carbon by 40% by 2030, an industry first, building on the Gigaton Challenge, the largest science-based climate commitment of any global company related to product emission reductions within a single decade. Trane Technologies has also pledged to be net-zero by 2050, and its near and long-term emissions reduction targets have been externally validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). 'I am delighted to report that Trane Technologies has signed on as a supporting organization for the MEP 2040 Commitment,' said Andrew Himes, director of collective impact for the Carbon Leadership Forum. 'Trane Technologies is the first company in its industry to join our movement to radically reduce total carbon emissions associated with building systems through collective action. I applaud the company's commitment to innovation and leadership in helping to transform the building industry!' ### About Trane Technologies Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes, and transportation. For more information, visit About MEP 2040 MEP 2040 is a movement to radically reduce total carbon emissions associated with building systems through collective action. In the Fall of 2021, The Carbon Leadership Forum issued a challenge, a group of MEP engineers responded to that challenge by collectively establishing a commitment. Since that time over 80 MEP firms have joined as signatories, actively contributing to the growing body of knowledge through the working groups and quarterly forums. You can learn more about the commitment at
