Case Study: Macalester College achieves campus energy efficiency and climate goals with Trane Commercial

Macalester College - Customer Case Study

Macalester College, in St. Paul, Minnesota, wanted to reduce the environmental impact of its campus while maintaining comfortable learning spaces. The college’s climate plan focused on zero waste, carbon neutrality, sustainability in education, and green building practices. Trane Commercial supported these goals with HVAC and controls expertise, including building automation and high-efficiency chiller strategies.

Trane Commercial helped Macalester upgrade its central chilled water plant with a Trane Tracer Summit building automation system and three high-efficiency 860-ton CenTraVac chillers serving all 18 campus buildings. The upgrade improved comfort, eliminated the need for the existing ice storage system, and avoided maintenance and repair costs. A key result was Markim Hall, which earned LEED certification and uses about 50% less energy than similar Minnesota buildings, with real-time energy and water data available to students and staff.

Macalester College

Suzanne Savanick Hansen

Sustainability Manager