Case Study: Science Museum of Minnesota cuts heating bills 75% with Trane heat recovery chillers

Science Museum of Minnesota - Customer Case Study

The Science Museum of Minnesota wanted to reduce energy costs and shrink its carbon footprint while supporting its mission to educate the public. To address the challenge, the museum worked with Trane Commercial to explore a heat recovery retrofit that could improve efficiency across a facility with varied heating and cooling needs, including exhibit halls, theaters, restaurants, and preservation areas.

Trane Commercial implemented two high-efficiency 160-ton Trane Series R® (model RTWD) heat recovery chillers to capture waste heat, convert it to hot water, and reuse it for building heating. The solution cut hot water heating bills by 75 percent, delivered nearly $300,000 in annual savings, and is expected to pay back in slightly over three years, while also helping move the museum toward carbon neutrality.

Science Museum of Minnesota

Patrick Hamilton

Director of Global Change Initiatives