When discussing the efficiency of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, the coefficient of performance (COP) serves as a critical metric. Essentially, COP measures how effectively an HVAC system converts input energy into thermal comfort or heating and cooling output. A higher COP indicates that the system is operating more efficiently, providing greater heating or cooling for less energy consumption. For example, a heat pump with a COP of 4 delivers four units of heat for every one unit of electricity consumed. Comparing COP values among different HVAC models can help consumers and engineers select the most energy-efficient solutions, ultimately leading to reduced utility bills and lower environmental impact. Understanding and optimizing COP is therefore vital in designing sustainable and cost-effective climate control systems.
COP = BTUOUTPUT / BTUINPUT COP = EER / 3.413COP = Net Refrigeration Effect (BTU/hr) / Heat of Compression (BTU/hr)
Legend
COP = Coefficient of Performance
EER = 0.875 × SEER or BTUOUTPUT / WATTSINPUT
Net Refrigeration Effect = Enthalpy of Vapor leaving Evaporator – Enthalpy of Liquid entering Evaporator
Heat of Compression = Enthalpy of Vapor leaving Compressor – Enthalpy of Vapor entering Compressor
* = Multiply
/ = Divide
+ = Add
– = Substract
√ = Square Root