保守估计表明，美国将4.7%的能源消耗用于空调和制冷（3.3 x 1015Btu/年）。这种使用的规模，加上高度季节性的需求和单一能源的初级利用，在能源分配方面造成了严重的紧迫问题。很明显，就BTU而言，即使是这种能源使用量的小百分比减少也可能是重大的:减少1%意味着每年节省3.3 x 1013Btu，以每1000 BTU 1%的速度，每年节省3.3亿美元。显然，提高冷却系统效率的动机是巨大的。 本文的目的是通过比较目前制造的冷却系统的典型性能特征与理想系统的相应性能，来指出理想的目标。引文:研讨会，ASHRAE交易，第80卷，第一部分，加利福尼亚州洛杉矶

Conservative estimates indicate that the United States uses 4.7% of its energy consumption on air conditioning and refrigeration (3.3 x 1015Btu/year). The size of this usage coupled with highly seasonal demand and primary utilization of a single energy source has caused severe immediate problems in energy allocation. It is readily apparent that even small percentage reductions in this energy usage can be major in terms of Btus: a decrease of 1% would mean saving 3.3 x 1013Btu/year and, at a rate of 1 cent per 1,000 Btus, a saving of $330 million/year.It is evident then that the incentive for increasing the efficiency of cooling systems is great. The purpose of this paper is to indicate desirable goals by comparing typical performance characteristics of currently manufactured cooling systems with the corresponding perform~nce of ideal systems.