You can realise significant savings if you work with the technician who services your rooftop air conditioning unit to identify and implement upgrades that can help you to save money on your monthly energy bill and repair costs. This article discusses some of the features that can be retrofitted to make those savings possible.
Demand-Controlled Ventilation
You can increase component life and lower energy costs by upgrading your rooftop unit to make it capable of adjusting the magnitude of ventilation based on the demand at a particular time. This feature can be activated by installing sensors that detect the extent of room occupancy to step up or lower how much ventilation is being provided. For example, the system can increase ventilation in case high amounts of carbon dioxide (from numerous people in the premises) are detected. Such adjustments can save energy because the system will only work at peak levels when there is a need for such a high level of performance.
Fault Detection/Diagnostics
Another helpful upgrade that can be considered is equipping the unit with software that can make it possible for defects to be detected and relayed to a monitor so that corrective action can be taken long before the fault worsens and triggers a system-wide malfunction. This feature will enable you to move from reactive maintenance to preventive maintenance. Repair costs will, therefore, be low because faults will be fixed in their initial stages. Energy savings can also be registered since all components will be performing at peak levels once they are free from faults.
Remote Monitoring
Energy savings and longer component life can also be achieved by upgrading the air conditioner so that it can be monitored or controlled remotely. For example, some homeowners spend a lot on energy just because they leave their ACs set at the temperature that they wish to have within the home upon returning from work. Remote monitoring and control can allow you to adjust the thermostat setting a short while before you head home. In this way, your unit will use less energy while you are away. The reduced load will also result in longer life for the unit.
It is also necessary to account for other considerations such as the expected service life of the unit and how long it will take to recoup what you have invested in the upgrade before any retrofit is implemented. Only then will you select those upgrades that are appropriate for the condition of your rooftop unit.
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