FAQs
Why RTUs?
State of the art RTUs are up to 50% more efficient than RTUs available ten years before. Advanced controls can save up to 40% with paybacks as short as 2 years. Nationally, RTUs are used in over 60% of U.S. commercial buildings and account for 2.1 quads of primary energy use. Nationwide if all 10-20 ton commercial units were replaced with the most efficient units, business would save about $1 billion each year in energy costs.
What is the difference between a Participant and a Supporter?
Participants own or manage commercial buildings with RTUs that need replacement/retrofitting: government agenices, large portfolio owners, single building owners.
Supporters assist Participants in the replacement/retrofitting of RTUs: trade & industry organizations, utility & efficiency programs, manufacturers & service providers.
What does it mean to join ARC as a Participant?
The Campaign encourages commercial and government building owners and managers to take advantage of the proven opportunity to save energy and money by replacing or retrofitting RTUs. When Participants sign up for the Campaign they:
- Are listed on the Campaign website.
- Pledge to use Campaign resources to evaluate energy savings from a replacement or retrofit.
The Campaign encourages building owners and operators to implement the RTU replacement or retrofit, but this implementation is not required. Participants have access to Campaign resources and technical expertise when they join the Campaign, and they are eligible for achievement awards pending documentation of the implementation.
I don't own or manage buildings. Can I still get involved?
Yes, as a Supporter. Organizations that do not own or manage buildings can join ARC as a campaign Supporter, who helps spread awareness about the Campaign and encourage others to get involved. Supporters can also work with their building owner or manager members on case studies to be published through ARC. Trade & industry organizations, utility & efficiency programs, manufacturers & service providers - all of these groups assist the adoption of efficient RTUs into the market and ARC welcomes them as Supporters.
What about data security?
If you or your company are concerned with sharing private energy or cost data in regards to RTU retrofits/replacements, there are many ways to still be involved in ARC without making the information available publicly. We can make your data anonymous by location and building or by your entire company. We can also use energy and costs savings data in terms of percentages instead of actual values to keep more information close-hold while still sharing knowledge on the benefits of retrofitting/replacing your buildings' RTUs.
What do I have to do to join as a Participant?
To sign up as a Participant, building owners and managers share basic information with the Campaign through a simple join form. By joining, Participants pledge to evaluate their RTUs and to replace or retrofit at least on RTU with high efficiency equipment. After joining, the Campaign asks the following voluntary steps from participants
- Evaluate your energy savings potential using Campaign resources and share this information with us
- Implement an energy-saving RTU replacement or retrofit and share documentation to qualify for an ARC Achievement Award
This website provides resources to help building owners and managers evaluate their building portfolio and identify good upgrade candidates. It will be updated throughout the Campaign with case studies of other participants that have implemented high efficiency RTU technologies.
What resources are available to Campaign members?
Technical and financial resources are available on the Campaign website. Members can find rebates and incentives, case studies, and useful contacts to help them take advantage of this energy savings opportunity. Campaign technical expertise from DOE National Laboratory experts is available, limited based on availability, to Participants as they are estimating their energy savings potential and submitting this information to the Campaign.
What are the benefits of joining?
In addition to saving money, improving energy efficiency, and reducing your environmental impact, high efficiency RTUs provide improved occupant comfort and more consistent space conditioning. Qualifying RTUs and RTU controls reduce uneven heating throughout a space and can reduce occupant complaints.
- Organizations that join are recognized on the participant list for making the pledge to implement an RTU retrofit or replacement. Participants can also access campaign resources and technical assistance.
- ARC Achievement Awards will be conferred to companies that implement an RTU replacement or retrofit that meet minimum Campaign requirements (pending submission of documentation such as an invoice, work order, or proof of utility incentive).
- Discounts on ASHRAE materials are available to organizations that document implementing an RTU replacement or retrofit.
- Supporters and Participants alike gain publicity from Campaign recognition for membership and involvement in ARC.
What is the deadline to join?
Participants can join anytime and pledge to upgrade or replace RTUs. The Advanced RTU Campaign will run from the spring of 2013 through the summer of 2016. The first deadline for recognition by the campaign is December 2014. The campaign will announce saving results in April 2015. The second round of awards will begin in January 2016, with final results announced in September 2016.
I'm building a new facility and would like to use high-efficiency RTUs. Can I participate?
Yes. Newly constructed buildings that specify RTUs that meet or exceed the CEE tier 2 criteria can join. Those that use RTUs that meet or exceed the 18 IEER efficiency level specified in the RTU Challenge are eligible for special recognition.
I recently completed a retrofit involving efficient RTUs. Am I eligible to join the Campaign?
Organizations that recently completed RTU controls retrofits or replacements with units that meet or exceed CEE tier 2 efficiency levels are encouraged to submit information about their project to be featured on the campaign's case study page. You may also pledge to complete future projects using high-efficiency RTUs. RTU retrofits or replacements that occur during the Campaign duration (May 2013 - November 2016) are eligible for awards and recognition.
I am a facility manager at a government building with RTUs. Can I participate?
Yes. State, local, and Federal government facilities are eligible to participate in the Campaign.
Who are the Campaign Organizers?
ARC is led by ASHRAE and RILA. ASHRAE is a building technology society with more than 50,000 members worldwide. The Society and its members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality and sustainability within the industry. RILA is the trade association for the world's largest and most innovative retail companies. It provides members with resources to empower, enhance, and accelerate their sustainability activities. The Department of Energy is the Campaign’s technical advisor. The Better Buildings Alliance (BBA)'s Space Conditioning Project Team works with FEMP and building owners, managers, and tenants to reduce space conditioning energy use by sharing cost-effective solutions and developing resources and specifications to build demand for higher efficiency technology.
State of the art RTUs are up to 50% more efficient than RTUs available ten years before. Advanced controls can save up to 40% with paybacks as short as 2 years. Nationally, RTUs are used in over 60% of U.S. commercial buildings and account for 2.1 quads of primary energy use. Nationwide if all 10-20 ton commercial units were replaced with the most efficient units, business would save about $1 billion each year in energy costs.
What is the difference between a Participant and a Supporter?
Participants own or manage commercial buildings with RTUs that need replacement/retrofitting: government agenices, large portfolio owners, single building owners.
Supporters assist Participants in the replacement/retrofitting of RTUs: trade & industry organizations, utility & efficiency programs, manufacturers & service providers.
What does it mean to join ARC as a Participant?
The Campaign encourages commercial and government building owners and managers to take advantage of the proven opportunity to save energy and money by replacing or retrofitting RTUs. When Participants sign up for the Campaign they:
- Are listed on the Campaign website.
- Pledge to use Campaign resources to evaluate energy savings from a replacement or retrofit.
The Campaign encourages building owners and operators to implement the RTU replacement or retrofit, but this implementation is not required. Participants have access to Campaign resources and technical expertise when they join the Campaign, and they are eligible for achievement awards pending documentation of the implementation.
I don't own or manage buildings. Can I still get involved?
Yes, as a Supporter. Organizations that do not own or manage buildings can join ARC as a campaign Supporter, who helps spread awareness about the Campaign and encourage others to get involved. Supporters can also work with their building owner or manager members on case studies to be published through ARC. Trade & industry organizations, utility & efficiency programs, manufacturers & service providers - all of these groups assist the adoption of efficient RTUs into the market and ARC welcomes them as Supporters.
What about data security?
If you or your company are concerned with sharing private energy or cost data in regards to RTU retrofits/replacements, there are many ways to still be involved in ARC without making the information available publicly. We can make your data anonymous by location and building or by your entire company. We can also use energy and costs savings data in terms of percentages instead of actual values to keep more information close-hold while still sharing knowledge on the benefits of retrofitting/replacing your buildings' RTUs.
What do I have to do to join as a Participant?
To sign up as a Participant, building owners and managers share basic information with the Campaign through a simple join form. By joining, Participants pledge to evaluate their RTUs and to replace or retrofit at least on RTU with high efficiency equipment. After joining, the Campaign asks the following voluntary steps from participants
- Evaluate your energy savings potential using Campaign resources and share this information with us
- Implement an energy-saving RTU replacement or retrofit and share documentation to qualify for an ARC Achievement Award
This website provides resources to help building owners and managers evaluate their building portfolio and identify good upgrade candidates. It will be updated throughout the Campaign with case studies of other participants that have implemented high efficiency RTU technologies.
What resources are available to Campaign members?
Technical and financial resources are available on the Campaign website. Members can find rebates and incentives, case studies, and useful contacts to help them take advantage of this energy savings opportunity. Campaign technical expertise from DOE National Laboratory experts is available, limited based on availability, to Participants as they are estimating their energy savings potential and submitting this information to the Campaign.
What are the benefits of joining?
In addition to saving money, improving energy efficiency, and reducing your environmental impact, high efficiency RTUs provide improved occupant comfort and more consistent space conditioning. Qualifying RTUs and RTU controls reduce uneven heating throughout a space and can reduce occupant complaints.
- Organizations that join are recognized on the participant list for making the pledge to implement an RTU retrofit or replacement. Participants can also access campaign resources and technical assistance.
- ARC Achievement Awards will be conferred to companies that implement an RTU replacement or retrofit that meet minimum Campaign requirements (pending submission of documentation such as an invoice, work order, or proof of utility incentive).
- Discounts on ASHRAE materials are available to organizations that document implementing an RTU replacement or retrofit.
- Supporters and Participants alike gain publicity from Campaign recognition for membership and involvement in ARC.
What is the deadline to join?
Participants can join anytime and pledge to upgrade or replace RTUs. The Advanced RTU Campaign will run from the spring of 2013 through the summer of 2016. The first deadline for recognition by the campaign is December 2014. The campaign will announce saving results in April 2015. The second round of awards will begin in January 2016, with final results announced in September 2016.
I'm building a new facility and would like to use high-efficiency RTUs. Can I participate?
Yes. Newly constructed buildings that specify RTUs that meet or exceed the CEE tier 2 criteria can join. Those that use RTUs that meet or exceed the 18 IEER efficiency level specified in the RTU Challenge are eligible for special recognition.
I recently completed a retrofit involving efficient RTUs. Am I eligible to join the Campaign?
Organizations that recently completed RTU controls retrofits or replacements with units that meet or exceed CEE tier 2 efficiency levels are encouraged to submit information about their project to be featured on the campaign's case study page. You may also pledge to complete future projects using high-efficiency RTUs. RTU retrofits or replacements that occur during the Campaign duration (May 2013 - November 2016) are eligible for awards and recognition.
I am a facility manager at a government building with RTUs. Can I participate?
Yes. State, local, and Federal government facilities are eligible to participate in the Campaign.
Who are the Campaign Organizers?
ARC is led by ASHRAE and RILA. ASHRAE is a building technology society with more than 50,000 members worldwide. The Society and its members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality and sustainability within the industry. RILA is the trade association for the world's largest and most innovative retail companies. It provides members with resources to empower, enhance, and accelerate their sustainability activities. The Department of Energy is the Campaign’s technical advisor. The Better Buildings Alliance (BBA)'s Space Conditioning Project Team works with FEMP and building owners, managers, and tenants to reduce space conditioning energy use by sharing cost-effective solutions and developing resources and specifications to build demand for higher efficiency technology.
