Trane Technologies and Amazon announced what they called “groundbreaking results” through advanced AI to improve energy efficiency and decarbonization in key real estate assets. The project, powered by Trane Technologies through BrainBox AI, in conjunction with Amazon Web Services, showcases a successful collaboration in building decarbonization.
Initial deployment at three pilot Amazon Grocery fulfillment facilities in North America exceeded expectations, achieving energy-use reductions of nearly 15% — more than double the original project targets. BrainBox AI, acquired by Trane Technologies, autonomously optimizes heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions and operational costs without compromising comfort or performance. Following the success of these initiatives, deployment is planned for the remaining Amazon Grocery fulfillment and distribution centers across more than 30 sites in the U.S. Furthermore, plans to pilot in grocery stores will begin in 2026.
“At Trane Technologies, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. This strategic collaboration demonstrates how sustainable solutions can drive strong returns while benefiting the planet,” said Riaz Raihan, senior vice president and chief digital officer of Trane Technologies. “Together, we’re not only transforming these fulfillment centers but also driving meaningful progress towards Amazon’s business objectives and bold sustainability goals.”
This initiative aligns with Amazon’s two-pronged approach to sustainability: decarbonizing existing buildings through smart technology while prioritizing energy-efficient and low-carbon materials in new construction. It also advances Amazon’s commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040 under The Climate Pledge while enhancing operational efficiency and long-term cost savings.
“At Amazon, we’re continually looking for data-driven, scalable solutions to reduce our carbon footprint while maintaining operational excellence,” said Christina Minardi, vice president of worldwide grocery stores real estate and store development at Amazon. “By working with Trane Technologies and the BrainBox AI team, we’re turning our buildings into intelligent systems that learn and adapt, helping us meet both our sustainability and performance goals in real time.”
In 2024, BrainBox AI was selected as one of the 11 innovative start-ups to participate in the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator Climate Tech Pilot. As part of this program, BrainBox AI was given the opportunity to trial its technology within Amazon’s operations, contributing to Amazon’s broader efforts to address major sustainability challenges. Using AWS’ AI technology which contains over 10 key AWS solutions such as Amazon S3, and Amazon Bedrock, BrainBox AI cleared the pathway for the Amazon Grocery fulfillment sites’ contribution as a driver of progress toward this goal.
“Amazon’s global scale and leadership in sustainability make this collaboration a transformative milestone,” said Jean-Simon Venne, founder and president of BrainBox AI. “Together, we’re showing how cutting-edge AI can drive both economic and environmental impact, creating a world where every building is a proactive participant in the fight against climate change.”
