Rooftop Unit Trends – More Reliable, More Efficient, Easier To Control
With more than 62,000 attendees – contractors, engineers, facility managers, distributors, and more – from more than 140 countries, the 2015 AHR Expo in Chicago, Illinois can be considered a roaring success. The AHR Expo is endorsed by 39 leading HVACR industry associations and is co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI. The Expo covered a lot of trends in the industry, including one of our favorite topics Rooftop Units.
Rooftop Unit Trends – More Reliable, More Efficient, Easier To Control
Like virtually any other technology, rooftop units (RTUs) are constantly evolving. This means better efficiency, more control, and better reliability. And new trends are popping up all the time, especially when it comes to energy efficiency. Commercial building owners and facility managers are always on the lookout for new products to operate their buildings as efficiently as possible and cut costs. This is one reason why the RTU replacements and retrofits remain one of the largest markets in the commercial HVAC industry. Of course, these are just a few of the ways building owners and facility managers look to curb energy costs. Other ways to improve the efficiency of rooftop units include the use of variable-speed drives, blowers, and compressors, along with more sophisticated controls.
Nowadays, people expect instantaneous results, instant feedback. This is true for everything from customer service to HVAC efficiency. The next generation of RTUs will be equipped with components and controls that will provide instant feedback. This will help facility managers to better plan maintenance and repairs.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
New Products Unveiled at 2015 AHR Expo
- Cambridge SA-Series of Blow-Thru® direct gas-fired space heaters: This new line uses the same technology as the larger series, but is sized for smaller applications. The SA-series achieves 100% combustion efficiency and provides 160°F maximum allowable output temperatures.
- Lennox Intl. Inc. Energence high-efficiency rooftop units: Available in 7.5-, 10-, and 12-ton capacities, these RTUs achieve IEERs up to 21.5 and EERs up to 13.9.
- Lennox Intl. Inc. variable refrigerant flow (VRF) product line: The company’s inverter-driven compressor heat pump and 6- to 30-ton heat recovery systems achieve IEER ratings up to 24.0 and simultaneous cooling and heating efficiency ratings up to 27.2.
- Daikin Applied intelligent rooftop units: Based on the HVAC Internet of Things (IoT), the new Intelligent Equipment platform provides large volumes of data, giving building owners and facility managers the actionable data they need to improve building performance.
- Petra Engineering Industries Co. 100% outside air package units with water-cooled condensers: Available in capacities ranging 45-140 ton.
- Johnson Controls Simplicity® Smart Equipment (SE) controls: Now available in the company’s York® brand of commercial packaged and split-system products, SE controls not only make equipment easier to install, operate, and service, but provides performance data to ensure efficiency.
Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. (CFSI) Can Handle Your Rooftop Unit Needs
As an HVAC contractor, our key focus is helping building owners, property managers, engineers and facility professionals lower their operating expenses through proactive HVAC Rooftop Maintenance, Retrofits, and Replacement. By servicing your HVAC equipment now with preventive maintenance, you can prevent emergency calls and equipment repairs. Give us a call now to set up an appointment for an HVAC system evaluation. We can also help you make better HVAC purchasing decisions when the time is right!
To get a service quote for preventive maintenance for Packaged Rooftop Units and learn how our comprehensive service agreement can improve performance and efficiency, please contact Crockett Facilities Services Inc. (CFSI) by calling 202.600.2787 or email sales@crockett-facilities.com. CFSI provides 24/7 commercial mechanical and HVAC services throughout Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. So give us a call today to find out how our MSCA GreenSTAR certified service technicians can improve your HVAC performance and energy efficiency.
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Sources:
Efficiency and Innovation Keep Rooftop Sector on Top, ACHR News