Carrier Abound Wins Top Project of the Year at the 2025 Environment + Energy Leader Awards in the Software Implementation Category

Carrier Abound helped the retailer address key challenges such as rising demand for occupant comfort, labor shortages, and disaster preparedness. Additionally, it tackled HVAC control inconsistencies, centralized monitoring issues, and enabled proactive equipment maintenance.

Carrier Abound has been honored with the Top Project of the Year Award in the category of Software Implementation at the 2025 Environment + Energy Leader Awards. This recognition is for how our software enhanced the energy efficiency for a leading American retail chain of discount department stores. Carrier Abound helped the retailer address key challenges such as rising demand for occupant comfort, labor shortages, and disaster preparedness. Additionally, it tackled HVAC control inconsistencies, centralized monitoring issues, and enabled proactive equipment maintenance.

The project commenced in 2019 with Carrier Abound introducing its software – the Abound™ Insights Platform – and the BluEdge™ Command Centers to optimize energy consumption, enhance equipment performance, and streamline operations. The platform played a pivotal role in helping the retailer achieve its objectives while overcoming critical challenges:

Standardizing Policies: The platform contextualized building operations, enabling a standardized approach that ensured consistent equipment performance, occupant comfort, and energy efficiency – even during extreme weather conditions.
Countering Labor Shortages & Managing High-Volume Alarms: The platform provided actionable insights, eliminating the need for manual Building Management System (BMS) logins. Technicians received prioritized work orders with guided recommendations, improving response time and overall productivity.
24/7 Support: Carrier Abound team established an intelligent infrastructure network, including the retailer's equipment, the Abound Insights platform and BluEdge Command Centers. This enabled rapid identification of inefficiencies and breakdowns. The Command Centers prioritized and streamlined issues into work orders, optimizing dispatch processes. Field service partners could also select guidance levels, ensuring cost-effective interventions.

As the project evolved, it consistently delivered measurable results. The retailer saved over 145 million kWh of energy¹ which is equivalent to preventing more than 98,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions² or equivalent to the carbon sequestered by over 1.6 million tree seedlings grown for 10 years².

The software implementation significantly improved operational efficiency, with Carrier Abound using it to remotely resolve 45% of work orders. This reduced truck rolls compared to the 2019 baseline, saving the retailer an estimated $6.9 million. This also meant that the retailer was able to reduce the emissions associated with truck rolls.

The E+E Leader Product & Project Awards have recognized excellence in products, services, and corporate initiatives that drive energy and environmental improvements, for over a decade.

Here's what the judges had to say:

“This initiative illustrates how technology-driven solutions can transform retail operations at scale. By integrating AI, IoT, and predictive analytics, the project invigorates energy efficiency and sustainability with optimized operational performance and cost savings. The ability to standardize HVAC and lighting configurations, proactively resolve maintenance issues, and improve occupant comfort demonstrates a proactive approach to facility management. The results speak for themselves—substantial energy savings, emissions reductions, and financial gains—all while ensuring a seamless and improved in-store experience."

"This project had a substantial positive impact to the customer and to the environment. It also appears the system was more successful as it was able to be seamlessly integrated with diverse BMS systems. The automation also gave insight into out-of-range conditions and issues that needed to be addressed. The software appears to have been a game changer for efficiency."

"Carrier demonstrates strong innovation and sustainability with its Abound Insights platform, achieving significant energy savings, CO₂ reduction, and cost efficiencies. Its scalability and measurable impact align well with ambitious environmental goals."

¹The protocol followed for calculation of energy is as per the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMPV®) – https://evo-world.org/en/products-services-mainmenu-en/protocols/ipmvp
²The Tons of Carbon Dioxide equivalent has been computed using calculator GHG calculator from - https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator