Packaged HVAC units – which include rooftop units (RTUs) – serve the conditioning needs for more than 50% of the U.S. commercial building floor space (DOE 2011) and consume nearly 4 quads of primary energy (electricity and gas). RTUs are the workhorses of space conditioning for one- and two-story commercial buildings.
The Advanced RTU Campaign was a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the private sector whose mission was to shift the market towards the adoption of high-efficiency RTU best practices. Running from 2013-2019, the Campaign had more than 350 partners, including major RTU manufacturers, distributors, utilities, efficiency organizations, industry associations, contractors, and building owners. Campaign organizers worked with these partners to understand and overcome market and technical barriers, resulting in 3.8 billion kWh of energy savings and nearly $400 million in cost savings.
This Toolkit collects the best practices, guidance, technical resources, and success stories from the Advanced RTU Campaign to enable building owners to take advantage of the energy efficiency savings possible through advanced rooftop units. It also includes materials for utilities and efficiency programs, as well as contractors and service providers.
If you are interested in learning more about energy efficiency opportunities in your building's HVAC systems, visit the Better Buildings Space Conditioning Technology Research Team.
