Rebecca Hovey
Energy 350 | Senior Engineer
Speaker
Track B: Energy Services and Emerging Technologies
Session B3: HVAC & Heat Pump Technologies
March 12, 2026 | 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Rethinking Rooftops: Where the Real RTU Savings Are
| Packaged rooftop units (RTUs) are widely used in commercial HVAC systems, with newer high-efficiency models promising energy savings. However, efficiency is often measured narrowly—focused mainly on cooling performance—without fully accounting for real-world impacts across different climates, building types, and configurations. This study uses the EnergyPlus-based Modelkit Flannel (“Modelkit”) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of RTU energy-efficiency measures. Researchers modeled over 3,300 scenarios spanning seven commercial building types, eleven U.S. climate zones, four RTU system types, and fifteen efficiency measures—evaluated both individually and in combination. Results challenge industry norms: the commonly promoted “efficient cooling” upgrade delivered the lowest national HVAC energy savings. In contrast, the greatest savings came from bundled strategies, heat pump RTU replacements, and adding energy recovery ventilation (ERV) to gas RTUs. These findings highlight the need to assess whole-system performance rather than focusing on single features. The research offers practical insights for energy managers, engineers, and HVAC professionals. By leveraging extensive modeling, it identifies which technologies and combinations deliver the most energy and cost savings, supporting smarter upgrades and more effective efficiency programs. |
Speaker Bio
Rebecca is a Senior Engineer with Energy 350 working to develop energy efficiency research, policy and programs in the Northwest. Much of Rebecca’s work has centered on commercial HVAC generally and commercial RTU specifically, including market research, stakeholder engagement, equipment standards advocacy, test procedure development, and long-term market transformation. Prior to Energy 350 Rebecca worked at Resource Innovations and Cadeo Group.