Increasing Efficiency and Driving Innovation at Mercedes-Benz USA

Increasingly, smart business leaders recognize the link between the workplace environment and employee performance and satisfaction. Whether you’re part of a small business, or a multinational corporation, no business is immune to the effects of an underperforming building comfort system.

And when building systems fail, employee productivity and business can come to a halt. When a chiller failed at the North American headquarters, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) turned to Trane, a longtime partner, to find a permanent, cost-effective solution.

Simple Changes, Big Savings

The building’s original cooling system aged significantly in its 40-year life span. After installing new Trane equipment, MBUSA saw an immediate drop in its energy use, resulting in cost savings. The building upgrades also qualified MBUSA for a $78,000 Smart Buildings energy rebate from the State of New Jersey.

"The new system is fully automated and integrated into our building management system," said David Lee, facilities maintenance supervisor, MBUSA. "The experience and planning that Trane possessed from previous projects of this scope and size definitely showed."

This is how Trane increased efficiency while reducing costs:

• The building’s original cooling system was replaced with two Trane CenTraVac™ centrifugal chillers, which are long lasting and cost effective, making them one of the most reliable and efficient cooling systems in the industry.
• To complement the new energy efficient chillers, Trane installed Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s) to continually monitor motor speed to maximize energy savings and extend the life of the motor while maintaining employee comfort.

• Finally, a Trane Tracer Summit building automation system (BAS) was installed to optimize the chiller’s performance and reduce energy usage. The BAS improved the ability for facility managers to perform daily tasks, including viewing reports and trends, while increasing efficiency — a win-win scenario for building operations.

Whether you’re operating a multinational corporation or simply looking to make your building systems more efficient, Trane is here to help. Click here to learn more about how Trane Building Advantage can benefit your business.