by Brianna Crandall — February 7, 2011—Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced February 3 that the U.S. Department of Energy is joining with the private sector to support market-based efforts to develop and deploy next-generation high-efficiency air conditioners for commercial buildings.
As part of a voluntary program, the Department worked with members of the DOE Commercial Building Energy Alliances, including Target and Walmart, to develop new performance criteria for 10-ton capacity commercial air conditioners, also known as rooftop units (RTUs). When built according to the requirements of the new specifications, these high-efficiency rooftop units are expected to reduce energy use by as much as 50-60 percent over the current equipment.
Additionally, the units will include advanced controls that support automated communication and diagnostics, enabling wireless communication to the owners’ automation systems and ensuring that the units operate at top energy and operational performance levels throughout their service life.
To help achieve the best-in-class rooftop units requested by industry partners, DOE national laboratories will provide technical assistance to manufacturers or developers who want to build the more efficient units. Interested manufacturers will receive assistance in designing, constructing, measuring, and testing the new air conditioner units produced to this specification.
DOE notes that manufacturers nationwide have a strong motivation to produce the more efficient units, since Target, Walmart, and other participating commercial building owners have expressed an interest in buying the new units if manufacturers can meet the new energy efficiency specifications at an affordable price with the range of features the companies need.
