The New Rooftop Air Conditioner

The Future is using less energy, while doing more.

The rooftop air conditioner has come into the new millennium!   Back in the dark ages of the 20th century, rooftop air conditioning units did little more than heat and cool.  In the last 10 years rooftop air conditioning units have evolved into sophisticated and "smart" machines. 

There are still low price rooftops or contractor grade equipment out there - that's all many manufacturers produce - but is that good enough?  Not with today's buildings and the new energy codes.  We must use equipment that can do more than just the basics and do it efficiently.   With a new awareness of moisture issues, energy conservation, code mandated fresh air and building automation, times have changed and this new generation of rooftop air conditioners can handle it.  

Rooftops  can now be ordered with dehumidification abilities built in from the factory.  Fresh air intakes that are not just fixed dampers, but are active.   With carbon dioxide sensors that are tied to the unit's on-board fully configurable controller, these rooftop units can react to changing environments. You don't waste money heating and cooling outside air you don't need.   Options like this didn't exist a decade ago.  You could only order a custom unit from one or two manufacturers, and even then the field modifications that you had to make were labor intensive and you had to make a lot of them.  Rooftop air conditioners are more flexible because of the computer technology that is built right in.   Smart controllers that are standard in many manufacturers models allow for a rooftop to be "customized" in the field with a laptop or even from the built in LCD screen.  If the use of the building changes, the unit can be reconfigured to adapt to the new circumstance!  Gone are the mechanical controls of the twentieth century.  Sensors that communicate with the new rooftop air conditioners are also "smarter" and easier to install.

Read the example and see just how flexible and capable a single rooftop air conditioner can be!

Here is an example of what a single roof top unit can do:

The building is a modest size real estate office, approximately 4500 sq ft.   With a main lobby and reception area, two conference rooms that can seat up to 15 or 20 people each.   Eight offices, the owner having a large office with large windows facing west.  This owner is conscious of the need for fresh air in the building, so he wants an adequate supply.  Some days the place is full of people, other days everyone is in the field.  How many air conditioning units would you need to properly condition this building?

Only one!   A single roof top air conditioner with a zoning package installed could individually heat and cool each of the rooms mentioned in the scenario and do it with precise temperature and HUMIDITY control.   Remember the owner's large corner office with those big west facing windows?   What about those conference rooms, empty some times, full at others?   Each could be controlled by an individual thermostat.   What about the humidity?   With a factory-installed humidity control option, the roof top unit will control it 24/7 to within plus or minus 3% of the setting.  The fresh air requirement will be met by an active fresh air intake build right into the roof top unit.  With the factory installed "demand control ventilation" sensor, the roof top unit only brings in fresh air as it is needed and only in the amount that is needed. Saving lots of money.  With three compressors in the roof top unit, it is flexible, shutting on or off compressors as needed, matching the load of the building as it changes.   Again, saving money and making the building more comfortable for the occupants.  Gotta have it???   Call us today!

Time to replace your current rooftop units?  Wonder about upgrading?  Refitting for a renovation?  Call us about the new rooftop air conditioners that are available now. We can help you choose the right units, with the right options for your building.

Air Express Air Conditioning Inc.

Advanced Building Diagnostics