Justin Barnes is a National Account Executive at Trane, brings 24 years of experience working in various vertical markets to indoor cannabis growers. With expertise in specific cooling strategies, energy solutions, and automation controls, Barnes is a valuable resource to the emerging industry.

Additionally, Marshall Kauffman, as an Enterprise Account Executive with nearly 20 years at Trane, cultivates key relationships with national customers in the indoor ag sector. Kauffman provides recommendations for preventative and predictive maintenance, data analytics, and HVAC systems.

In this episode of A Tech Moment, these two discuss the pitfalls of improper heating and cooling systems and how to avoid disaster. With more than 100 years of experience as a company, Trane offers tried and true HVAC solutions for indoor cannabis operations.

Trane Offering HVAC and Cannabis Solutions

According to Marshall, as leaders in supplying sustainable and efficient climate solutions, providing systems and solutions for the growing cannabis industry was simply a “natural progression” for Trane. Having built relationships with design engineers, some for several decades, following them into cannabis as it expands with legalization makes perfect sense for the company. It is a new frontier with a bit of a “Wild West mentality” and “a fun learning curve,” adds Barnes.

Cannabis presents its own set of challenges to the grower. Microclimates, humidity, molds and fungi, even odor mitigation are a few of the many problems that can arise. One way Trane addresses these issues before they get out of hand is with remote monitoring. Should analysis or system control signal an issue, operators can log in and potentially rectify the situation before incurring the expense of having a truck and tech called to your site. Detailed analytics can also pinpoint over or underuse of the equipment to best optimize energy efficiency and get things back on track.

Why upfront design considerations are significant to your success

Trane Technologies HVAC solutions are based on open communication with each facility’s design engineers and its end users. Whether it is a new build or you are retrofitting a system that may have had a different purpose before, designs focus on a variety of factors, each presenting its own set of challenges. The number and height of plants to be grown, the type and count of lights being used.

How much air movement is needed and what kind of irrigation is being used, and how often? Is the electrical set-up able to support the load? Multiple design considerations are used so that Trane can offer customized solutions critical to the equation in the quality, consistency, and yield of the grow.

Not knowing the end goals of a facility or issues like having incorrect data can result in massive losses, including the possible failure of an entire crop. Any changes or adjustments that aren’t calibrated within the system make it difficult to control the environment effectively and for the equipment to do its job. The scalability, flexibility, and convenience of Trane’s packaged solutions help to ease these growing pains.

Service Agreements for the benefit the lifetime support of your equipment and help save on energy costs in the long run

Service agreement support for your HVAC equipment will extend your equipment’s life and allow you to benefit from onsite visits and operating inspections that turn tech into a trusted partner in the grow facility. Increased reliability due to regular maintenance ensures that your initial upfront investment is realized.

Tune in to the podcast to hear Justin and Marshall talk more about the Trane approach to IEQ recommendations, sustainability, and reducing energy waste, and the Horizon Thrive, their new rooftop unit that helps maximize indoor growing yields.