When Root Elementary in Fayetteville, Arkansas needed to replace a handful of aging rooftop units, plant director David Tate saw a unique opportunity: upgrading with equipment designed to use the least energy possible, with the ability to produce some of its own energy needed for operation.
Tate selected the SunSource® Commercial Energy System from Lennox, the industry’s only solar-power system integrated directly into a rooftop unit. The SunSource system is a factory-installed option for Energence® rooftop units, the most energy-efficient light commercial rooftop unit1. For Root Elementary, Tate had three 17 SEER rated Energence units, each designed to accept up to 21 power-generating solar modules.
For Root Elementary, Tate and his maintenance staff had six solar modules installed for one rooftop unit. Designed with a plug-and-play system for simple installation, the system with modules was installed in about half a day with no changes to the building’s electrical wiring infrastructure required.
Tate was impressed that the modules not only capture the sun’s energy, but each also uses its own microinverter to convert the DC power harnessed to AC power and send it directly to the rooftop unit. Because the modules aren’t tied together with a high-voltage line, the system is both safer and more reliable: If shade or dirt hampers one solar module, other modules aren’t affected.
By pairing a 17 SEER Energence unit with the SunSource system, the school can achieve an effective efficiency of 34 SEER and beyond6 to lower its energy consumption. The SunSource system is monitored by an online communication module that will provide real-time system status, allowing Tate to see how much energy the system is producing and the environmental benefits it provides 24/7.
With the ability to immediately monitor the reduction in emissions and energy use, the SunSource system and Energence units should provide the Fayetteville school system with benefits they can see now and for years to come.
“I would definitely recommend Lennox equipment to any school,” Tate said.