TRANE® RESIDENTIAL HEATING AND COOLING RESEARCH LAB AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Trane engineers and students conduct research in houses set up as test labs to increase energy efficiency and performance of home heating and cooling
Tyler, Texas, May 8, 2018 – Today Trane®, a leading global provider of indoor comfort systems and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Trane® Residential Heating and Cooling Research Lab at The University of Texas at Tyler. The university and Trane formally inaugurated the lab during an event at two test homes on the university’s campus, and invited mechanical engineering undergraduate students to apply for the lab’s graduate-level research program.
“Trane is always looking for faster and better ways to introduce innovation that improves energy efficiency and performance of residential home heating and cooling,” said Matthew Pereira, vice president of engineering and technology for Trane’s residential business. “We’re proud to spotlight this program and these unique test houses, where we’re designing new technologies while supporting engineering education and leadership. This also demonstrates our longstanding collaboration with the university and our commitment to helping communities where we operate thrive, including East Texas.”
Trane engineers embarked on innovative projects and research in the lab this year, which are expected to result in new products for the market within the next two or three years. Trane has a five-year agreement with the university that gives the company exclusive access to the laboratories for HVAC testing and research and to two graduate students to run the tests.
“When universities partner with corporations the resulting research and economic development make both institutions stronger. UT Tyler is proud to celebrate the first anniversary of its partnership with Trane,” said Dr. Michael Tidwell, UT Tyler President. “This partnership is helping our engineering students develop the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to thrive in today’s complex corporate environment.”
Located on the university’s campus, the lab is made up of two, identical looking homes – one built with standard construction techniques and the other built with high-performance, energy-saving measures, such as energy-efficient windows, spray-in foam insulation, a tight building envelope, solar panels, and more.
The mayor of Tyler, Texas, the president of the university, members of the media and various Trane leaders, students, and other civic, university and company representatives attended today’s ceremony and lab tour.