 GE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL |
At first glance, PTAC systems may not seem very eco-friendly. After all, the common joke is that PTACS have two settings: extremely cold and extremely hot.
Many hotel guests have been known to crank on the heat or air-conditioning when they check-in, they leave to go to dinner, and then turn it off when they return and go to bed. That inefficient use of energy can be a significant portion of a hotelier's utility bill.
To combat this, PTAC manufacturers say efficiency is their biggest concern and, if operated properly, units actually can save energy and lower utility costs.
James Benz, marketing manager with GE Commercial and Industrial, said a PTAC unit with a heat pump is far more efficient than one with strip heat. Strip-heat systems use technology similar to what heats a hair dryer, he said.
"That's not a little energy improvement, that's huge," Benz said. "The savings can run into the hundreds of dollars per unit, per year."
Beyond purchasing the proper type of heating or cooling unit, Benz said hoteliers can save on energy costs by setting temperature limits.
"Guests have this notion that if they crank the temperature all the way down, it will cool the room faster," he said. "That's just not the case."
 AMANA |
Another energy-saving feature that PTACs offer is a heat sentinel, which will kick the cooling unit on once the temperature in a room reaches a certain high temperature. This way, the room can cool slowly rather than use maximum power to cool an overheated room.
Amana offers an energy-management system centered on occupancy detection that can be added to its PTAC units to conserve energy use.
"We have a door sensor system, and when the guest walks out of the room it goes into setback mode," said Tom Guffey, v.p., Amana brand PTAC sales division. "Conservatively, the heating and cooling system is 50 percent of a property's load. You can get a 20- to 30-percent reduction with an occupancy-sensor device."
Changes in industry will cost hoteliers
 TOP FOUR: Things to look for in a PTAC |
The PTAC industry will undergo major changes in 2010 that most likely will lead to higher installation and subsequent service costs.
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The main refrigerant that has been used in heat pump and air-conditioning systems for decades, R-22, has been deemed harmful to the ozone. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, after Jan. 1, 2010, chemical manufacturers still may produce R-22 to service existing equipment, but not for use in new equipment. As a result, PTAC manufacturers will be forced to produce new units.
