A comparison of central and individual systems for space conditioning and domestic hot water in new multifamily buildings

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · ASHRAE Transactions (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers); (USA)

OSTI ID:5783646

Byrne, S J ^[1]; Fay, J M ^[2]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley Lab., Berkeley, CA (US)
2. Gas Research Inst., Chicago, IL (US)

This report compares the energy performance and life-cycle cost of central and individual heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems as well as domestic hot water (DHW) systems in new multifamily buildings. The different systems were analyzed by using DOE-2.1C to model prototypical apartment buildings in Chicago and Atlanta with Weather Year for Energy Calculation weather data. The building is equipped with either a central chiller and gas-fired boiler, which supply four-pipe fan coils in each apartment, or is conditioned by individual packaged terminal air conditioners in each apartment. The building with central HVAC also has a central, gas-fired domestic hot water system; the building with individual units has electric water heaters in each apartment. The individual systems were modeled with and without a setback thermostat. The use of natural gas for space and water heating and the more efficient central chiller resulted in an annual energy cost savings for the central system in both cities. A life-cycle cost comparison of system types shows that apartment buildings with as few as five units in Chicago and as few as 30 units in Atlanta should be designed with central HVAC and DHW systems.

• OSTI ID: 5783646
• Report Number(s): CONF-890609--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: ASHRAE Transactions (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers); (USA) Journal Volume: 95, Part 2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
ACCOUNTING
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
APPLIANCES
BUILDINGS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY ACCOUNTING
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
HEATERS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SERVICE LIFE
SPACE HVAC SYSTEMS
WATER HEATERS