Trane's Low-Tech Coolers Offer Lifeline in India's Extreme Heat

BENGALURU, India – March 06, 2026 – As extreme heat waves increasingly threaten livelihoods across India, global climate innovator Trane Technologies is deploying a new generation of passive cooling solutions designed to protect the nation's most vulnerable workers. The company announced major advancements to its Cooling Carts and Cooling Vests, low-tech but high-impact innovations that are already shielding street vendors from devastating food spoilage and outdoor laborers from dangerous heat stress.

Developed in collaboration with the Shell Foundation, these initiatives represent a critical step in building climate resilience from the ground up, addressing a reality where access to cooling is not a luxury, but a necessity for survival and economic stability.

A Lifeline for the Informal Economy

For millions of street vendors in India, many of whom earn less than $5 a day, daily earnings are directly tied to the freshness of their produce. Searing temperatures can spoil fruits and vegetables within hours, leading to significant financial losses. In some parts of India, up to a third of all food loss occurs at the vendor level due to harsh weather and the lack of affordable cooling.

Trane Technologies' Cooling Cart directly confronts this challenge. First prototyped in 2022, the cart has been extensively refined based on feedback from field pilots in Karnataka and Maharashtra. It utilizes passive cooling technology, requiring no electricity to shield perishables from extreme heat. This simple yet effective design can extend the shelf life of fresh produce by one to two days, a crucial margin that allows vendors to sell more of their stock and secure a more stable income.

Following the successful trials, the program is expanding, with 100 of the next-generation carts being deployed across major market hubs in India. Many are already in active use, providing a tangible economic buffer for fruit and vegetable sellers whose livelihoods hang in the balance each day.

Protecting Workers on the Frontlines of Climate Change

Beyond the marketplace, India's vast outdoor workforce—from construction crews to delivery personnel—faces the severe health risks of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. To address this, Trane Technologies has significantly scaled its Cooling Vest program, a personal cooling solution designed for those routinely exposed to dangerously high temperatures.

The company has produced 12,000 vests to date, with 7,000 allocated for large-scale trials currently underway across India. The latest design emphasizes improved comfort, durability, and temperature-regulating performance to mitigate heat stress and support worker well-being. Unlike some alternatives that require refrigeration or are ineffective in high humidity, these vests are engineered for practicality in challenging climates.

The initiative's impact has already garnered industry recognition, recently receiving the Vanguard Award for its innovative contribution to protecting worker health and productivity. This accolade underscores the growing importance of personal cooling garments as a fundamental tool for climate adaptation.

"At Trane Technologies, we believe cooling must be accessible to all—especially those whose health and livelihoods depend on safe working conditions," said Dr. Zubin Varghese, Senior Director of Innovation and Center of Excellence at Trane Technologies India. "By advancing and scaling both our Cooling Carts and Cooling Vests, we are helping vendors protect their goods, enabling workers to stay safe in extreme heat, and empowering communities to build a more resilient and sustainable future."

The Power of Partnership: A Strategic Pivot to Inclusive Cooling

These advancements are not isolated efforts but are part of a broader, strategic partnership aimed at systemically addressing the cooling gap. In 2024, Trane Technologies and the Shell Foundation, an independent UK-registered charity, launched the Scaling Passive Affordable Cooling for Environmental Sustainability (SPACES) programme.

Supported by funding from the UK government, the SPACES program is designed to accelerate the deployment of climate-smart, affordable cooling technologies across India and Africa. The collaboration moves beyond traditional, energy-intensive air conditioning to focus on accessible, community-focused solutions that reduce carbon emissions while strengthening economic stability.

"As extreme heat intensifies, millions of micro–entrepreneurs and informal workers risk losing income because they lack affordable cooling solutions," stated Jonathan Berman, CEO of the Shell Foundation. "Through our collaboration with Trane Technologies, we are deploying innovative tools like Cooling Carts and Cooling Vests to safeguard livelihoods and health. This partnership demonstrates that improving climate resilience is fundamental to long–term economic progress."

From Local Success to a Global Blueprint

Building on the strong community impact and adoption in India, the partners are now extending the program's reach into Africa. Initial deployments of Cooling Carts and Vests are beginning in Nigeria and Ghana, where micro-entrepreneurs, food vendors, and outdoor workers face similar climate-related risks. This expansion serves as a powerful example of how localized, successful solutions can be adapted and scaled to create a global blueprint for heat resilience in vulnerable regions.

In addition to its work on personal and vendor cooling, Trane Technologies is applying its expertise to agricultural resilience on a larger scale. The company is conducting pilots with onion-growing communities to tackle post-harvest losses that result from oversupply and a lack of adequate cooling infrastructure. With promising initial results, plans are in place to expand these agricultural efforts in 2026, aiming to fortify food value chains and deliver economic benefits to more farming communities worldwide.