Carrier commences advanced RTU field trials
24th December 2025
USA: Carrier is to commence commercial field trials in the US of its next-generation rooftop heat pumps following validation under the US Department of Energy’s HVAC technology challenge.
The DOE’s Commercial Building HVAC Technology Challenge is designed to accelerate adoption of equipment that lowers energy use and operating costs. The programme includes two light commercial product categories — 10-14 tons and 15-25 tons — with Carrier one of the companies participating in both.
Carrier’s new 10-14 ton rooftop heat pump, the first in its range to complete DOE lab verification testing, has been installed at a large national retailer in upstate New York as part of ongoing field trials.
The unit exceeded key efficiency and performance benchmarks in independent testing conducted by DOE, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. It set a performance benchmark for cold-climate commercial rooftop systems by delivering 100% heating capacity at 5°F, more than 70% heating capacity at -10°F.
A Carrier 15-ton rooftop unit is currently undergoing testing at the DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and is expected to begin field trials at a commercial facility in Pennsylvania in the coming weeks. These trials will be monitored and verified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and are expected to conclude in summer 2027. Commercial availability is anticipated in summer 2027.
According to Carrier’s light commercial MD, Heidi Gehring, the field trials are the final step before launching a high-performance product to the US market.
Related stories:
Carrier completes 10-14ton RTU challenge – 14 September 2025
USA: Carrier has become the first manufacturer to complete the US Department of Energy’s Commercial Building HVAC Technology Challenge laboratory validation in the 10-14 ton rooftop heat pump category. Read more…
