YORK, a brand under Bosch Home Comfort Group, has introduced the Sun Pro and Sun Choice Dual Fuel Rooftop Units (RTUs) designed to enhance energy efficiency year-round through a dual system that integrates a heat pump with either a gas or propane furnace.
These advanced RTUs promise significant cost savings in heating and cooling, making them highly suitable for numerous light commercial applications, particularly in colder regions where utility costs can be a concern.
Innovative Heat Pump Technology
The evolution of heat pump technology in recent times makes dual fuel systems an attractive option
The evolution of heat pump technology in recent times makes dual fuel systems an attractive option for various building designs and climates, including those that endure low temperatures.
When temperatures fall beneath the operating range of the heat pump, the integrated furnace seamlessly takes over as an auxiliary heat source, ensuring continued energy efficiency and comfort.
The U.S. Department of Energy indicates that dual fuel heat pump RTUs can cut energy costs by up to 50% in commercial buildings when compared to traditional RTUs. This substantial utility savings, coupled with available rebates and incentives, accelerates the adoption of these systems.
Optimized Energy Use
Matthew Schlegel, senior product manager at Bosch Home Comfort Group, explained that the dual fuel RTUs provide building owners the flexibility to utilize the efficient heating and cooling capabilities of heat pumps throughout the majority of the year while relying on the furnace during extremely cold conditions.
The YORK Sun Pro and Sun Choice units are built upon robust heat pump and furnace platforms and feature embedded intelligence to automatically optimize the energy source based on external conditions and custom settings tailored to a facility’s operational needs.
Advanced Control Features
Transitioning between energy sources in the Sun Pro and Sun Choice units is automated via advanced controls, enabling operators to set a balance point — the external temperature at which the system switches between the heat pump and gas heat.
This balance point can be tailored to optimize either comfort or emission reductions. These RTUs come with a backup heat setting to activate the alternative heat source in cases of failure, ensuring uninterrupted heat supply.
Reliability and Maintenance
The units are highlighted for their system redundancy, enhancing their reliability
The units are highlighted for their system redundancy, enhancing their reliability. With optional hot gas reheat and dual-circuit refrigerant designs, they effectively manage humidity and maintain operations at 50% capacity during any refrigerant or compressor issues.
Designed with serviceability in mind, the Sun Pro model features a slide-out blower and tool-less access panels, whereas the Sun Choice model incorporates a direct-drive plenum fan, improving efficiency and ease of service.
Jason Carter, a senior product manager at Bosch Home Comfort Group, remarked, “Our new direct drive plenum fans are a game changer. By eliminating belts and moving to a slide-out design, contractors save time on commissioning and maintenance, while building owners gain a more efficient, reliable system.”
Estimating Savings
The Bosch Home Comfort Group also provides a YORK Dual Fuel Heat Pump Operating Cost and Emissions Estimator tool, accessible through the Solution Navigator app.
This tool enables facility managers to evaluate the annual cost and emissions savings of dual fuel systems compared to conventional air conditioning systems with gas heat or standard heat pumps, customizable at various balance points.
The Pro and Choice Dual Fuel RTUs are available through brands such as YORK, Johnson Controls, and others as part of the Bosch Home Comfort Group’s portfolio and come with a one-year parts warranty.
YORK, a licensed brand of Bosch Home Comfort Group, has launched the Sun Pro and Sun Choice Dual Fuel Rooftop Units (RTUs), which combine a heat pump with a gas or propane furnace as a supplemental heat source to deliver more efficient heating and cooling year-round, compared to previous models.
Ideal for a wide range of light commercial applications, Sun Pro and Sun Choice Dual Fuel RTUs help building owners in colder climates reduce utility spending and support long-term energy goals while reliably maintaining occupant comfort.
Innovations in heat pump technology have rapidly advanced in recent years, making dual fuel systems a viable solution across many building types and environments, even those that experience colder temperatures.
Auxiliary backup heating
When outdoor temperatures drop below the heat pump’s operating range, the system transitions to the furnace as auxiliary backup heating.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, dual fuel heat pump RTUs can reduce energy costs in commercial buildings by up to 50 percent compared to traditional RTUs. The long-term utility cost savings, plus rebates and incentives that offset the upfront system cost, are driving adoption.
Dual fuel RTUs
“With dual fuel RTUs, building owners in more regions can depend on the optimized efficiency of heat pumps for cooling and heating most of the year and rely on the furnace for heating on the coldest days,” said Matthew Schlegel, senior product manager, commercial, Bosch Home Comfort Group.
“Built upon the proven YORK heat pump and furnace platforms, the YORK Sun Pro and Sun Choice Dual Fuel RTUs are engineered with embedded intelligence that automatically transitions to the most optimal energy source based on outdoor conditions and customizable settings programmed to the operational goals of the facility.”
Innovative controls
The seamless transition between fuel sources is automated through innovative controls, which make the Sun Pro and Sun Choice dual fuel RTUs practical and efficient.
The controls enable operators to set a balance point to determine the outside temperature at which the system will transition between heat pump heat and gas heat to maximize comfort and efficiency. The balance point can be customized to prioritize comfort or lower emissions.
System redundancy for long-term reliability
System reliability is significantly enhanced through built-in redundancy and reliability. In addition to controlling the heat source by outdoor temperature setpoint, the RTUs include a backup heat setting that allows the unit to engage either source of heat when there is a lockout or failure with the other source of heat, ensuring at least some heat is provided to the space in all conditions.
Optional hot gas reheat (HGRH) helps control humidity, and simplified controls support easy operation. Units also feature a dual-circuit design for refrigerant. In the event of a refrigerant leak or compressor issue on one circuit, the system will continue to operate at 50 percent capacity until it can be serviced.
Technician-friendly features
The Sun Pro model (6.5–12.5 tons) is designed for easy serviceability with a slide-out blower and hinged panels for tool-less access. The Sun Choice model (12.5–25 tons) features a direct-drive plenum fan that improves efficiency, simplifies service, speeds commissioning and expands airflow capability.
For most installations, Sun Choice units do not require curb adapters, which can significantly reduce installation costs. Jason Carter, senior product manager, commercial, Bosch Home Comfort Group said, “Our new direct drive plenum fans are a game changer. By eliminating belts and moving to a slide-out design, contractors save time on commissioning and maintenance, while building owners gain a more efficient, reliable system.”
Savings calculator
To help facility managers estimate the financial impact of dual fuel efficiency, Bosch Home Comfort Group developed the YORK Dual Fuel Heat Pump Operating Cost and Emissions Estimator tool, available in Solution Navigator, an all-in-one app for product selection and literature.
The Estimator tool helps customers compare annual costs and emissions for dual fuel systems versus standard AC with gas heat or a standard heat pump. It also estimates outcomes at different balance points.
Pro and Choice Dual Fuel RTUs are available from the YORK, Johnson Controls, TempMaster, Luxaire, Coleman, Champion, Fraser-Johnston and Kenmore brands as part of the Bosch Home Comfort Group portfolio and brands and are backed by a one-year parts warranty.
