DOE Efficiency Standards Drive the Industry

As part of our mission to transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play, Johnson Controls is at the forefront of delivering more efficient, more sustainable HVAC solutions. This vision for a better future works in harmony with the regulations and guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as they likewise seek to improve efficiency standards.

Recognizing that rooftop units (RTUs) cool about 50% of the total commercial floor space across the U.S., in 2015, the DOE introduced new requirements for commercial air conditioners and furnaces that will shape the future of the industry. Touted as the “largest energy-saving standard in history,” the Advanced RTU Campaign raised rooftop unit efficiency requirements by 13%, effective January 2018. Then, in 2016, the DOE took things further by requiring rooftop units to achieve an additional 15% efficiency by 2023.

The DOE Set the Standards. Then We Raised Them.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sets minimum cooling efficiency standards for rooftop units, as well as the energy-efficiency standards for the gas-fired furnaces that are often used in RTUs. Beyond that, the DOE can also mandate that each state update its commercial building codes to meet specific requirements, including ones like ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1.

Johnson Controls has responded to these performance challenges by relaunching our high-performance rooftop product portfolio, which includes class-leading standard efficiency levels and units that already exceed DOE 2023 standards. Available in 3- to 150-ton capacities, these units go even further, with features designed to minimize installation and operating costs, including standard Smart Equipment. Each roof-mounted package unit combines an exceptional combination of efficiency, performance and comfort.

The Secret to RTU Efficiency

A key ingredient in the success of our rooftop units is the use of a variable-air volume system. Rooftop units servicing large, open areas are usually set up with either constant volume (CV) or single-zone, variable-air volume (SZVAV) control logic. In simple terms, a CV system supplies the same amount of air across the occupied space, while an SZVAV varies the airflow to match the system capacity to the room load. In fact, the energy-efficiency gains made possible by SZVAV systems are so impressive, requirements for SZVAV were added to the 2010 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, and the DOE further mandated that each state update its commercial building codes to meet or exceed Standard 90.1.

To learn more about how DOE efficiency requirements are driving change in today’s high-performing rooftop units, and how variable air volume systems are helping to meet that challenge, download your free copy of the complete Variable Air Volume (VAV) Application Guide for Rooftop Units.