Single-package air conditioner and methods of operation

A single-package air conditioner unit comprising:

• a cabinet defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion;
• an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in the outdoor portion;
• an indoor heat exchanger disposed in the indoor portion;
• a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger;
• and
• a controller in operative communication with the compressor, the controller being configured to initiate a conditioning operation, the conditioning operation comprising
• receiving a demand response signal corresponding to electric power access,
• determining occupancy of an indoor environment as a binary value as to whether the indoor environment is or is to be occupied, and
• initiating a responsive conditioning cycle in response to receiving the demand response signal, the responsive conditioning cycle being based on the determined occupancy,
• wherein the controller is programmed with a plurality of dehumidification routines of varying demand levels during an active refrigeration or heat pump cycle to circulate refrigerant through the compressor,
• wherein initiating the responsive conditioning cycle comprises preventing one or more of the plurality of dehumidification routines based on the determined occupancy as the binary value as to whether the indoor environment is or is to be occupied,
• wherein the plurality of dehumidification routines of varying demand levels comprises an active heat dehumidification routine and a reheat loop or cool air dehumidification routine, and
• wherein preventing one or more of the plurality of dehumidification routines comprises preventing the active heat dehumidification routine while permitting the reheat loop or cool air dehumidification routine.