Indoor comfort solutions and services provider Trane marked a celebration last month to commend a significant expansion to its manufacturing facility in Columbia, South Carolina, the US, as well as highlight the company’s ongoing efforts in environmental, social and business sustainability.

US South Carolina governor Henry McMaster, local and statewide public officials and members of the community joined Trane business leaders, employees and customers to commemorate

the $100-million expansion of the facility, as well as the high performance and energy efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) products it manufactures.

The facility now has an installation of a 1 342 kW solar power system. The solution reduces over 74 000 mt of greenhouse-gas emissions over the system’s 25-year life span.

The event was also intended to present a grant from Trane’s charitable foundation for the purpose of further educating and training a new generation of workers including science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) enthusiasts, as well as recognising employees that contributed to the facility and their contribution to the plant’s expansion.

The space for advanced manufacturing equipment, which was more than one-million squat feet and maintains innovative design and production of heating, cooling and ventilation products for the company’s commercial HVAC business, was unveiled.

The investment applies Trane’s experience and knowledge in environmental technology and energy efficiency to reduce energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and waste- to-landfill.

“This is a celebration of our commitment to customers, employees, and our community,” says Trane commercial HVAC North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa president Donny Simmons.

He enthuses that, as a major employer in the area, Trane knows that investments in its people and plant will give back to the community for years to come. “We thank the state of South Carolina and Richland County for their partnerships.”

McMaster states he is excited, but not surprised, that Trane made the decision to expand.

“Trane is a world-class organisation that needed a world-class workforce and a collaborative business environment, and they found it in South Carolina. We celebrate their expansion and continued success.”

Trane business leaders presented a $5 000 grant through nonprofit organisation the Ingersoll Rand Foundation to museum venue EdVenture Children’s Museum in support of early STEM education in the area. With this grant, Trane Columbia will sponsor the museum’s summer 2020 Robotics Camp, including financial support for local underprivileged students

“EdVenture Children’s Museum has worked proudly with Trane and the Ingersoll Rand Foundation since 2015. “Trane’s ongoing support, including through this latest grant, enables our continued efforts to provide innovative, hands-on learning experiences to local students that inspire a new wave of lifelong learners,” states EdVenture executive VP Nikki Hill.

The Columbia facility expansion as well as workforce initiatives and community donations are in line with the company’s 2030 sustainability commitments, which it announced in May upon accepting global nonprofit sustainability organisation the World Environment Center’s 35th Annual Awards gold medal for international corporate Achievement in sustainable development.

The company designed these commitments to achieve multiple goals.

The first goal is to address the challenge of climate change including reducing customer carbon footprint from buildings, homes and transportation by 1 Gt carbon dioxide emissions to the yearly emissions of Italy, France and the UK combined.

The second goal was to transform its supply chain and operations to have a restorative impact on the environment. This includes achieving carbon neutral operations and giving back more water than the company uses to water-stressed areas.

The last goal was to increase opportunity for all in the company, strengthening economic mobility and bolstering the quality of life of its employees including gender parity in leadership roles, a workforce reflective of the company’s community populations, maintaining liveable market-competitive wages and broadening community access to cooling comfort, housing and food.