Heating and cooling systems are among the major energy consumers in residential, commercial, and public buildings. For schools, residential communities, office buildings, hospitals, and commercial complexes, improving HVAC efficiency can directly reduce long-term operating costs.

As energy-saving renovation and low-carbon building development continue to gain attention, Maglev heat pumps are becoming an increasingly attractive solution for new HVAC projects and the replacement of conventional heating and cooling equipment.

With oil-free magnetic bearing technology, variable-speed operation, and integrated heating and cooling capabilities, Maglev heat pumps can provide efficient and reliable performance for buildings with long operating hours and changing heating and cooling demands.

Proven Performance in Building Projects

Central Heating for a School Campus

A school campus in Shandong, China, has a heating area of approximately 89,600 m² and requires stable indoor temperatures throughout the winter season.

During the 2025 heating season, two 300 RT and one 150 RT Maglev heat pump units were installed to replace the existing natural gas boiler system.

The heating cost was reduced to approximately RMB 23 per square meter, compared with RMB 30–40 per square meter with the previous gas boiler system. The project also achieved annual operation and maintenance savings of nearly RMB 400,000.

Deep Geothermal Heating for a Residential Community

In another project in Tianjin, a heating service station provides heating for approximately 270,000 m² of residential buildings using medium-to-deep geothermal energy.

In 2025, one 1,100 RT and one 500 RT Maglev heat pump were installed. The system uses geothermal water as the heat source and raises its temperature through the Maglev heat pump before supplying heat to the residential buildings.

During the 2025–2026 heating season, the system operated at approximately 70% load and achieved a COP of more than 6.3 under the project’s operating conditions.

Ground-Source Heating and Cooling for a Residential Community

A 27,000 m² residential community in Shandong installed a Maglev ground-source heat pump system in November 2024.

The system provides both heating and cooling for the buildings. During one heating season, the project saved approximately RMB 230,000 in electricity costs, while annual electricity savings for combined heating and cooling exceeded RMB 400,000.

Why Are Maglev Heat Pumps Suitable for Building HVAC?

These projects show that energy-efficient HVAC operation depends on more than equipment capacity. Operating conditions, load variation, energy efficiency, and maintenance requirements all influence the long-term performance of a heating and cooling system.

Maglev heat pumps offer several advantages for these applications.

Oil-Free Operation

Magnetic bearing technology allows the compressor to operate without conventional mechanical contact and lubrication oil.

The oil-free design eliminates the need for a traditional compressor oil circulation system, helping reduce maintenance requirements and potential issues associated with oil management.

Efficient Variable-Load Operation

Building heating and cooling demand changes throughout the year and is rarely constant.

Maglev heat pumps can adjust their operating capacity according to actual demand, helping maintain efficient operation under different load conditions.

Heating and Cooling in One System

A Maglev heat pump can provide heating in winter and cooling in summer, allowing one system to serve the building’s year-round HVAC requirements.

This makes the technology suitable for residential communities, schools, commercial buildings, hospitals, and other facilities that require both heating and cooling.

Reduced Mechanical Wear

Magnetic bearing technology minimizes physical contact between rotating components. This reduces mechanical wear and can contribute to reliable long-term operation with lower maintenance requirements.

Supporting More Efficient Building HVAC Systems

For building owners and facility operators, HVAC upgrades are not only about reducing energy consumption. Long-term operating costs, equipment reliability, maintenance requirements, and seasonal performance also need to be considered.

From school campuses and residential communities to geothermal heating projects, the application of Maglev heat pumps demonstrates their potential for improving building heating and cooling efficiency.

SCO POWER provides Maglev heat pump solutions for new HVAC installations, conventional equipment replacement, and building energy-efficiency projects. Based on the building characteristics, heat source, cooling and heating demand, and operating conditions, SCO POWER develops application-specific solutions for efficient and reliable operation.