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Abstract: The performance of different HVAC systems varies when coupled with different buildings. This paper examines the relationship between building heating and cooling load and subsequent energy consumption with different HVAC systems. Two common HVAC systems in use throughout the UK office building stock, variable air volume (VAV) system and fan coil (FC) with dedicated outside air system, have been coupled with a typical narrow plan office building with and without daylight control and for both cellular and open plan. The results presented in this paper clearly indicate that it is not possible to form a reliable judgment about building energy performance based only on building heating and cooling loads. For the two investigated systems, variable air volume system and fan coil with dedicated outside air system, the difference between system demand and building demand varied from over −40% to almost +30% for cooling and between −20% and +15% for heating. If a heat recovery unit is used, the difference in heating performance is even greater, rising to −70%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Optimized designs for controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facilities are described. • The designs utilize life cycle cost analysis to achieve optimal energy performance. • Energy efficiency and renewable energy measures are part of optimized CEA designs. • Optimal savings of over 65% can be achieved compared to baseline CEA designs. The paper describes a systematic analysis approach to optimize the design of indoor farming facilities considering both energy efficiency and renewable energy systems. The design optimization is based on a life cycle cost (LCC) analysis to account for both capital and energy costs over the lifetime of the facilities. The analysis indicates that LCC-based optimal designs consistently reduce annual energy consumption of the indoor farming facilities compared to the baseline case reaching up to 65%. The most effective energy efficiency measures for indoor farming facilities include high performance heating and cooling systems as well as optimized operational controls. While the heating and cooling system depends on the climate, daylighting controls and temperature settings are found to be consistently suitable for optimized designs in all US locations. The optimization analysis indicates that net-zero energy (NZE) designs for indoor farming facilities, while technically feasible, are typically not cost-effective in most US climates. Only NZE facilities located in Sacramento, CA, can be achieved cost-effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]