Advanced RTU Guidance & Financial Incentives | Better Buildings Initiative

Implementation Toolkits

The Advanced Rooftop Unit (RTU) Campaign created a variety of toolkits for utilities, efficiency programs, contractors, service providers, and leased-space tenants related to implementing high-efficiency RTU retrofits or replacements based on best practices distilled from the more than 350 Campaign Participants and Supporters.

Utilities and Efficiency Programs: Retrofitting | Replacing
These toolkits are designed to assist utilities and efficiency programs in understanding and incentivizing high-efficiency RTU replacements or retrofits.

HVAC Contractors and Service Providers: Retrofitting | Replacing
These toolkits help HVAC contractors and service companies work with their customers through a step-by-step method of evaluating and managing their inventory of RTUs and how to make the business case for high-efficiency upgrades.

Leased Spaces
This toolkit contains example lease language, case studies, and other resources to help building owners and tenants effectively include high-efficiency RTUs in leases.

Evaluation Methodology for Building Owners and Facility Managers
This toolkit highlights a step-by-step method of evaluating and managing their inventory of RTUs and how to make the business case for replacements, retrofits, and quality maintenance practices.

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE

The resources collected here focus on best practices related to high-efficiency RTUs, including specific guidance for the retail sector on leasing and retrofits and environmental guidance for managing refrigerants. Click MORE to view.

HVAC End-of-Life: Options and Best Practices
This fact sheet provides relevant information to help building owners manage proper disposal of HVAC systems, how to navigate regulations, and how to recover economic value from old systems.

Advanced Commercial Rooftop Units Report
This report details the evaluation of the first RTU to meet DOE’s High-Performance RTU Challenge. Results showed 26-31% energy savings as compared to the baseline. Part of the GSA Green Proving Ground.

Updated Refrigerant Management Requirements
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires proper refrigerant management practices by technicians, owners and operators of refrigeration and AC systems, and others. This document outlines 2016 changes to Section 608 of the Clean Air Act.

Proper Disposal of HVAC Equipment
This EPA fact sheet outlines the requirements regarding the disposal of HVAC and refrigeration equipment, as well as tips and best practices for handling refrigerants and foams.

Retail RTU Lease Language
This report from DOE and the Institute for Market Transformation provides a menu of lease clauses to facilitate RTU efficiency in retail leases for both retail tenants and commercial real estate landlords.

Business Case for Proactive RTU Replacement
This report introduces the key elements to consider in making the business case for a proactive high-efficiency RTU replacement strategy for facility maintenance staff and building engineers responsible for energy management.

Replacing and Retrofitting Rooftop Units through the Advanced RTU Campaign
This report from the Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association (PRSM) highlights the benefits of proactive rooftop unit replacement and retrofits within the retail sector with support from Advanced RTU Campaign resources.

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FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

Various financial incentives exist at the state and federal levels to help building owners pay for high-efficiency RTU retrofits or replacements. The resources below can guide you to the available options for your location and sector. Click MORE to view.

RTU Incentives Database
This spreadsheet lists HVAC-related financial incentives and programs in various states for the highest energy savings opportunities.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE)
A comprehensive list of energy efficiency incentives organized by state, maintained by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.

U.S. Small Business Administration Loans
The SBA offers loan programs to help retrofit facilities and buy efficient equipment.

FEMP's Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) ENABLE Team
For Federal facilities, ESPCs can be used to overcome upfront cost barriers to implementing RTU early retirement or control strategies. This offering from DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) is designed to permit a standardized and streamlined procurement process for small federal projects (ranging from $500,000 to $5 million) to install targeted energy conservation measures in six months or less. ESPC ENABLE is well-suited to meet the needs of small federal facilities, including those < 200,000 square feet.

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