Green Business Partner Leaders are businesses that are recognized as sustainability leaders in the county and demonstrate they have integrated sustainability into their business model. In this issue, we are featuring a conversation with Boland Trane Services.
What does your business do in Fairfax County?
Boland helps clients in Fairfax County build, operate, maintain, and optimize their buildings to be healthier, more energy-efficient, and productive. As the largest HVAC and energy services company in the Washington, DC area, Boland provides technical expertise and solutions that support building performance, comfort, and sustainability goals. Boland also serves the local building and contractor community with an HVAC Parts and Supply store located in Chantilly.
What are some ways your business is incorporating sustainability into your operations?
Boland integrates sustainability through multiple initiatives, specifically in 2024:
- Reduced its own GHG emissions intensity by 21% over a 2018 baseline.
- Implemented a remote services program that eliminated 33.45 metric tons of CO2e.
- Added recycling services, conducted waste audits, and installed water filters to reduce landfill waste and promote reusable water bottles.
- Launched a public transportation program and supported local home rebate programs for associates.
Have you found any creative or innovative solutions to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions?
Boland’s remote services program is a standout innovation, reducing the need for service technicians to travel to job sites while also saving our clients money. Technicians utilize advanced analytics to enhance traditional service tools, enabling them to work more efficiently and effectively. Additionally, Boland is investing in electric vehicle (EV) technology to reduce fleet emissions, as well as in our buildings to reduce building emissions.
For clients, Boland offers cutting-edge technologies, including thermal energy storage, chiller-heater systems, and AI-based analytics & control solutions, to reduce emissions and costs.
What have been the key incentives or motivators for your company to adopt sustainable business practices?
Boland is driven by its mission to make buildings better – for people and the planet. Thus, we believe it is our responsibility to serve as an example to our clients, partners, and community.
Additionally, put simply, using less means saving more – a principle that makes sense for any business.
Boland has been recognized as a “Best Places to Work” by the Washington Business Journal for 18 years. Our culture is extremely important to us, and part of that includes listening to our associates and understanding what matters to them. Each year, sustainability emerges as an increasingly important priority for them.
The Mission of the Green Business Partners program is to support Fairfax County businesses in creating a carbon neutral economy through collaboration and learning opportunities that advance climate action. How does this fit into the mission of your organization?
This mission aligns perfectly with Boland’s goals. Boland not only reduces its own emissions but also empowers clients to meet their sustainability targets. Through education, outreach, and leadership roles in industry boards, Boland actively contributes to a carbon-neutral future.
What is something more businesses in Fairfax County could benefit from if they knew about it?
Many businesses could benefit from utility incentive programs and grants for energy efficiency projects. In 2024, Boland helped clients secure approximately $1 million in such funding, which significantly offsets the cost of capital improvement upgrades.
Is there anything else you would like to highlight to GBP Members and Leaders?
Boland is deeply committed to workforce development and community engagement. In 2024, it launched a high school outreach program to promote HVAC careers, delivered energy and sustainability classes to over 700 participants, and maintained a best-in-class safety record with an EMR of 0.53. Our philanthropic Boland Cares program supports multiple organizations throughout the DC metro area; with volunteer PTO offered to all employees. Boland is happy to engage further with community members who want to learn more!