Annual heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) energy requirements and building coefficients of performance (BCOP) for common HVAC systems, such as water-loop heat pump (WLHP), variable-air-volume (VAV), single-zone reheat (SZR) and four-pipe fan coil (FCU) systems, are compared for combinations of building size, core-to-perimeter-area ratios, and location. It was found that WLHP systems are energy efficient and have significant potential for heat recovery. Annual HVAC energy requirements increase by 40% if a four-pipe fan coil system is used rather than a water-loop heat system, by 100% to 200% if a variable-air-volume system is used, and by 300% to 400% if a single-zone reheat system is used. The building coefficient of performance decreases by 20% to 30% when a four-pipe fan coil system is used in place of a WLHP system, by 50% to 60% when a variable-air-volume system is used, and by 70% to 80% when a single-zone reheat is used. Building location, core-to-perimeter-area ratio, glass quantity, building U-factors, and the use of an outside air economizer also affected the annual HVAC energy and BCOP values.

KEYWORDS: Heat pumps, energy consumption, heat recovery, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, coefficient of performance, variable volume air conditioning, fan coil units, comparing, buildings, outdoor air, economisers.