DAVIDSON, N.C., August 28, 2025–Trane®–by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator, announced that a transformative project is now underway at the University of Louisville (UofL). The project will upgrade the university’s chilled water system in the central utility plant that serves the Belknap campus, the university’s main education hub. This multi-year project will modernize critical university infrastructure, enhancing the comfort and experience of students, faculty, and staff across more than 40 campus buildings.
When complete, the upgraded plant will deliver up to 12,000 tons of cooling capacity, helping provide a reliable, comfortable learning and research environment for decades to come. Through the enhancements, UofL is projected to achieve more than a 20% reduction in energy consumption. The project is a pivotal component in the university’s plan for achieving their ambitious Climate Action Plan goals for 2030.
This comprehensive upgrade replaces major plant components, including chillers, cooling towers, primary pumps, and the energy management system, with high-efficiency technology and AI-ready automation. Since 2021, UofL has leveraged Trane’s Intelligent Service energy management program, harnessing building and energy data to support the university’s ongoing efforts to help reduce energy usage and cost. The university is expanding this service to include the central utility plant, allowing automation and system optimization from day one. The project supports UofL’s strong commitment to modernization, future readiness, and responsible stewardship of resources.
“This project is a monumental step forward for the University of Louisville, directly impacting the daily lives of everyone on our Belknap campus,” said Sajid Mian, Associate Vice President for Facilities Management at UofL. “Beyond simply replacing aging equipment, we are investing in a future-ready system that will provide unparalleled reliability, comfort, and energy efficiency. This is about creating an optimal environment for learning and living, ensuring our campus remains a vibrant and productive space.”
Key Benefits and Innovations of the UofL Central Utility Plant Upgrade:
- Enhanced Comfort and Reliability: The project will bolster the cooling system's resilience, supporting consistent, comfortable temperatures across the 43 campus buildings currently served by the central utility plant, including critical research facilities that depend on the plant's reliability.
- Future Readiness: This is a generational investment, setting up the Belknap campus for the next 20-30 years with state-of-the-art technology, expanded capacity, and a robust infrastructure capable of meeting future demands.
- Smart, Operator-Centered Controls and Educational Opportunities: The plant’s new control system will be AI-compatible and dashboard-driven, providing operators real-time visibility into equipment status, energy use, load forecasts, and performance trends. This "Command Center" will offer invaluable educational opportunities and foster collaborations with academic departments such as the UofL’s J.B. Speed School of Engineering and the Sustainability program, allowing students to engage with cutting-edge energy management technologies.
A centerpiece of the modernization is a thermal energy storage (TES) system that features an approximately one-million-gallon chilled-water tank. This innovative system, sourced from a local manufacturer, will allow the university to produce and store cooling during off-peak hours and deploy it during peak summer demand. This will significantly reduce the run-time of chillers that must operate during the hottest periods, helping reduce strain on the electrical grid, and lowering energy cost savings.
The upgraded central utility plant will help to significantly advance UofL’s sustainability goals. By integrating the TES system, high-efficiency equipment and advanced controls, the campus improvements will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to emissions generated from the electricity powering more than 430 homes for one year. The project also includes the responsible removal of refrigerants and the demolition of the coal boilers, further reducing the university’s environmental footprint.
“We are so excited for this next major step on our journey to carbon neutrality,” said Justin Mog, UofL’s Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives. “Past investments in energy efficiency have been at the core of our success in cutting UofL’s annual carbon emissions in half since we first signed the Carbon Commitment in 2008.”
On June 16, 2025, university President Gerry Bradley re-signed UofL to the Carbon Commitment, reaffirming the university’s pledge to environmental sustainability.
UofL selected Trane as its integrated design and implementation collaborator. Trane’s project team is leading scope development, detailed engineering, and phased construction to keep campus operations running safely and cost-effectively throughout the upgrade. Notably, approximately 50% of the Trane project development team are UofL alumni, demonstrating a deep commitment to their alma mater.
“Collaboration with UofL on this innovative initiative underscores what’s possible when proven engineering meets a forward-looking campus vision,” said Ernie Tacogue, Senior Complex Solutions Executive, Trane. “From advanced controls to thermal energy storage, the solution is designed to deliver measurable outcomes connected to capacity, reliability, and efficiency on day one and over the life of the plant. We are particularly proud of the strong University of Louisville alumni presence on our project team, reflecting a shared dedication to the university’s success.”
The project will conclude with independent third-party commissioning to validate performance and ensure the upgraded plant meets all operational, reliability, and efficiency targets. Substantial completion is targeted for early Summer 2027.
About Trane
Trane—by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator—creates comfortable, energy efficient indoor environments for commercial and residential applications. For more information, please visit trane.com or tranetechnologies.com
About University of Louisville
Founded in 1798 as one of the nation’s first city-owned, public universities, the University of Louisville (UofL) is a vital ecosystem that creates thriving futures for students, our community and society. One of only 21 universities in the United States to earn recognition by the Carnegie Foundation as both a Research 1 and an Opportunity College university, and further noted as a Community Engaged university, we impact lives in areas of student success and research and innovation, while our dynamic connection with our local and global communities provides unparalleled opportunities for students and citizens both.
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Media Contact:
Brandon Borgna
Trane by Trane Technologies
336-698-6094
brandon.borgna@tranetechnologies.com