Economizers   What they do When installed into a rooftop unit, an economizers regulates and optimizes the amount of outdoor air brought into a building for the purposes of cooling, and ventilation.   The benefits The most obvious benefit is the energy savings. Economizers reduce the need for mechanical cooling, saving up to 30% on average in energy costs. Another benefit is the reduction of CO2 levels inside your building. Less CO2 in the air helps employees stay more alert so they can be more productive.   How they work Economizers use sensors, installed at various locations inside the rooftop unit, to monitor temperature and humidity levels inside and outside the building as well as CO2 sensor to monitor the level of Carbon Dioxide inside the building. This information is used to control a logic module/motor actuator which automatically adjusts the angle of the damper blades in the outdoor damper assembly to allow more or less outdoor air into the building, depending on conditions.   Economizer packages can be installed into new rooftop units or retrofitted into older ones. They are an inexpensive way to improve cooling and ventilation and conserve energy.   back to PilotLight online

PARTIAL VIEW OF A TYPICAL ROOFTOP UNIT WITH ECONOMIZER INSTALLED   During colder months or when the outdoor humidity level is high, the outdoor damper blades are set to the minimum position to allow only 15% to 20% outdoor air into the building while mechanical cooling or heating is engaged.   During warmer months when the outdoor air is cooler than the indoor air or the CO2 level inside the building rises, the damper blades are angled to allow more fresh air into the building for cooling or to lower the CO2 level.