International. As countries around the world work to contain the spread of COVID-19 and prepare to reopen, Trane Technologies announced that it is addressing critical needs for healthier air quality in buildings, hospitals and homes and safe transportation for food and medicine.
The company has seen a growing focus on indoor air quality in buildings, including hospitals and other healthcare settings. At the same time, tension in the grocery supply chain and concerns about a food supply crisis brought on by a pandemic highlight the vital role transport refrigeration plays in getting perishable goods to their destinations safely.
"Sustainable, reliable and efficient climate control technologies are more important today than at any time in recent history," said Mike Lamach, president and CHIEF Executive Officer of Trane Technologies. "Society will increasingly rely on the latest technologies for airflow and filtration, remote controls and operation, and precision temperature control for transportation. As we address these needs, strengthen infrastructure, and increase efficiency and resilience, we are improving the health and safety of people, communities, and the planet."
Healthier and more sustainable buildings
"While there are still many unknowns about how the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads, what we do know is that proper design, installation and maintenance of HVAC systems are key to maintaining healthier and more efficient built environments," said Dave Regnery, president and chief operating officer of Trane Technologies. "By ensuring proper air treatment, filtration, ventilation and decontamination, we are helping to keep people safe and comfortable even in the most difficult situations."
Technologies such as Trane's catalytic air cleaning systems include special filtration systems and ultraviolet light to remove pathogens and particles from the air in healthcare facilities. In areas with specialized needs, such as isolation rooms and operating rooms, proper pressurization and airflow prevent infections from spreading. Other healthcare facilities, such as research laboratories and pharmaceutical manufacturers, also rely on specialized climate solutions to meet strict air quality standards.
Through rental options for climate and air quality control, Trane Technologies also supports emergency hospital expansions and temporary health care facilities, including tents built in parking lots or parks.
Remote monitoring and control systems allow building operators and technicians to monitor a building's HVAC system around the clock, and technicians can diagnose and repair problems that can affect efficient operation and air quality.
"Beyond health care, indoor air quality is becoming more focused as communities begin to reopen and people return to offices and eventually places like movie theaters, gyms and shopping malls," Regnery said. "It is important that the mechanical systems of buildings are thoroughly checked and maintained after long periods of vacancies, taking into account ventilation, airflow and humidity, to ensure healthy and efficient indoor environments."
Safe and efficient transport of food and medicines
Trane Technologies is helping to address another major challenge exacerbated by the pandemic: ensuring a safe and reliable cold chain for transporting food and medicine. Feeding America says food banks have seen a 70 percent increase in demand, and 40 percent of the people served by food banks are new to the system.
"Perishable products require precise temperature control," Regnery said. "Even the slightest variation in temperature can cause food to spoil prematurely or compromise the integrity of life-saving drugs. Our communities need these products, so waste is not an option."
Thermo King telematics for real-time intelligence on the status of refrigeration equipment helps fleet managers ensure units are operating properly and efficiently to maintain shipment safety and quality. In addition, the company offers special air filtration systems to improve air quality in the passenger cabins of vehicles for public transport, such as buses.
Outreach
Through its transportation refrigeration technologies and employee volunteers, Trane Technologies sponsors and partners with Feeding America and local food banks to address growing food supply shortages and divert food waste from farms to people in need. This includes setting up emerging food pantries to serve thousands of struggling people.
"We have the opportunity, and the obligation, to care for our people, serve our customers in innovative ways, and put our technology at the service of our communities. Innovating and responding quickly are key to building community and global resilience," Regnery said.
Additional information
There is strong evidence from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and other sources that HVAC technologies can mitigate the risk of exposure to infectious aerosols in built environments; however, the transmission and mitigation of COVID-19 in buildings has not yet been fully tested and confirmed.
