PISCATAWAY, N.J. - By the year 2015, the HVAC industry is expected to be short roughly 700,000 engineers - with more than 70 percent of energy services companies expecting their future to be impacted by shortages of skilled personnel. Because of this, Trane has introduced a program called “Engineering Better Careers, Engineering Better Environments™,” as a way to attract graduating college students to the HVAC industry and to the company.

According to the company, the program is designed to connect Trane’s senior executives with college engineering students looking to make a difference in the built environment.

Trane teams with top engineering schools across the United States to engage students in issues important to their careers like the environment and energy use. It also creates experiences for students that better prepare them for the business world including sponsoring clubs, events, internships and limited scholarships as well as providing software and lab equipment at reduced rates. Some of the institutions include: University of Wisconsin - Madison, Iowa State University, and California Polytechnic Institute.

“Trane offers engineering graduates the unique opportunity to apply their engineering skills to create business advantages for building owners and operators,” said John W. Conover, president of Trane’s commercial business in the Americas. “Graduates that join Trane have the opportunity to work with consulting engineers, architects, contractors, and owners to design and apply the world’s most advanced line of commercial HVAC systems - and make an environmental and economic impact today.”

After graduation, new hires participate in Trane’s Graduate Training Program, which combines five months of intensive technical and business training in La Crosse, Wis., with six months of on-the-job mentoring in a pre-determined location.

Students can also take advantage of 12-week, paid technical sales internships designed to give undergraduates a clearer understanding of the HVAC industry, along with an opportunity to strengthen their skills through customer visits, presentations, hands-on assignments, and online idea sharing.

For more information, visit www.trane.com.

Publication date: 10/27/2008