Albert Einstein had a way with words and big ideas. Always on the cusp of where today and tomorrow transact, his sentiment holds true today. Innovative technology keeps presenting itself in new and bold ways. This is now especially true in the commercial HVAC world.
Older, inefficient commercial rooftop unit (RTU) air conditioning systems are common and can waste from $900 to $3,700 per unit annually, depending on the building size and type. Good reasons to be proactive about replacing or retrofitting your RTUs.
New American Standard RTU 8.5 Ton Installation Video by Vasi:
Part load performance improvements driving today’s advancements
Because RTUs spend most of their time operating at part load, leveraging technology advancements that deliver results in this mode have been especially fruitful. The biggest contributor has been variable speed fans, which allow for electrical savings by moderating the fan speed according to the load required. Also larger evaporator and condenser coils provide more effective heat transfer surface areas. And more efficient compressors along with improved controls are creating more effective operating outcomes that result in lower energy use. This all adds up to substantial improvements for the Integrated Energy Efficiency Ratio (IEER) for RTUs.
New awareness effort
By replacing or retrofitting these rooftop units, you can save money, improve your energy efficiency and you may even help your building be more comfortable and productive. Plus as a building management organization, there may be opportunities to include RTU usage and operations language in your lease agreement. Behind this is a joint effort involving ASHRAE, a building technology society of more than 50,000 members worldwide, RILA the Retail Industry Leaders Association representing the nation’s largest retailers and The U.S. Department of Energy. Learn more at the Advanced RTU website. Here’s where you can read case studies that showcase real life results, like these:
- 40 Target stores replace RTUs to save 13 million kWh (kilowatt hours) per year, resulting in savings of over $1.3 million annually
- Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. made 238 high-efficiency RTU replacements across 900 stores, resulting in an estimated savings of 1.4 million kWh, worth $140,000 annually
Don’t Delay Your Saves & Comfort !
The Advanced RTU Campaign (ARC) encourages commercial building owners and operators to replace their old RTUs with more efficient units or to retrofit their RTUs with advanced controls in order to take advantage of these benefits.
Talk to Vasi to see what type of RTU upgrade could save your business the most and visit MassSave website to learn about rebates which may be available for your project.