A Comfortable and Secure Home Is Ingersoll Rand's Goal

No matter where we live - whether it's a condominium downtown, a home in the suburbs or a rambling country estate - a few basic needs must be satisfied. Safety, comfort and efficiency are at the top of that list.

Recognizing that these needs are so essential to homeowners, Ingersoll Rand took its well-known consumer brands in the residential security and comfort solutions markets and formed a new Residential Solutions business. Announced in June 2009, Residential Solutions brought together Schlage, Trane and American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning to create new opportunities for HVACR distributors and contractors, while offering an innovative set of products and services for homeowners.

The formation of Ingersoll Rand Residential Solutions was preceded two years earlier by Ingersoll Rand's acquisition of Trane Inc., formerly American Standard Companies Inc. With Trane and American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning, Ingersoll Rand was able to complete its portfolio of diversified businesses, forming a global enterprise focused on creating safe, comfortable and efficient environments for people at home and at work, says John Evans, Residential Solutions vice president of marketing and product management.

With a successful integration between the two companies, Ingersoll Rand took the next step in creating Residential Solutions. “It's been a natural, very positive and exciting blend of the businesses,” says Joyce Warrington, HVACR brand marketing director. “We've discovered a unique alignment in our distribution, in our values and in our philosophy. We are well on our way to building a great future together.”

Building the Future Home

Just 18-months-old, Residential Solutions has already proven itself to consumers, distributors and contractors. Evans notes that its success stems from the value proposition of providing safer, more comfortable and more energy-efficient homes. “Our new business was founded on the basis that we provide consumers more innovative products and services to help manage their homes, even remotely,” he says.

Indeed, Trane and American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning are well-regarded and popular brands among HVACR wholesaler distributors as well as consumers, while Schlage locks are known to virtually anyone who has ever turned a key to open a door. With such trusted brands providing tangible benefits to consumers, Ingersoll Rand's Residential Solutions business is moving forward to develop security and home comfort products that are capable of being integrated in ways that delight consumers and create new selling opportunities for distributors.

For example, Schlage LiNK^™ is a security product that includes an electronic keypad lock and security camera, which allows homeowners to monitor and manage their homes via remote access devices such as web-enabled computers or mobile phones, for a modest monthly fee. With the Residential Solutions partnership, Schlage LiNK can now be used to manage and control a home's energy use remotely with the Trane Remote Energy Management Thermostat as an accessory. The company estimates that consumers can reduce energy consumption in a home by up to 15 percent by actively using the Trane remote system.

The Trane Remote Energy Management Thermostat is sold through retail environments and Trane Comfort Specialist dealers. “It's a terrific option for customers to consider,” Warrington says. “With it, a Trane dealer can offer consumers both HVACR and security solutions for their home. That's unique in the industry and it really shows the power of the two brands and businesses coming together for the distributors and the homeowners to deliver the ultimate in safety, comfort and efficiency.”

Understanding Consumers

About three-quarters of Residential Solutions' sales go through independent dealers and distributors. Evans says the business is always looking for the best performers in each market and will open their own distribution offices if they can't find the type of distributors that provide the right mix of support and service to customers. Residential Solutions also works with retailers and builders. With the various distribution channels, Evans says they have many ways to reach consumers - indirectly and directly. “That's why we feel that our opportunities are so vast,” he says. “The more time we spend with consumers, the more we learn about them and the better able we are to meet their needs.”