Newer PTACs Offering Increased Sustainability

Sustainable hotels are becoming increasingly important to public image as well as its bottom line. Contributing to this sustainability is a hotel’s PTAC units. Luckily, with advancements in efficiency, a hotel’s PTAC units are adding to its ‘Green Factor’.

“New PTACs have the ability to connect to a third-party thermostat with an occupancy sensor, which allows the unit to accommodate a field-installed door switch or occupancy sensor to manage the energy used”

said Lorie Quillin-Bell, go-to-market director, LG Electronics USA Commercial Air Conditioning.

“You’re seeing a lot more energy-management controls in smaller properties,” said Douglas Mackemer, national director of parts, supplies and specialized equipment at Carrier Enterprise. “If a room’s not slated to be rented, the unit can be shut off or set back to optimize the dollar cost savings for the hotelier.”

New PTAC unit designs can also boost efficiency. “We’ve enlarged the surface area of the coil to allow for better dehumidification,” said Mackemer. “A greater surface area allows more energy transfer to occur. We call it unloading the coil.” Additionally, changes in the fan motor and fan design can also move air more efficiently and with less energy.

Being able to measure a PTAC’s energy cost, and by extension its contribution to any energy savings on the property, is also important, said Barry Bookout, national manager for lodging and specialty products at Friedrich Air Conditioning Co.

“It’s not enough to just build a high efficiency air conditioning product,” said Bookout. “Owners and engineers want the tools to be able to measure, verify and, when necessary, modify the energy usage in their hotels, all while maintaining optimum guest comfort.”

Newer, more efficient PTAC units can provide a good balance of performance and total cost.