Present work compares the performance of commercially available 170 kW vapor compression chiller with equivalent three configurations (parallel, series and combined series-parallel) of VCAIRS (vapor compression-absorption integrated refrigeration system) based on combined energy, exergy, economic and environmental (4E) analyses. Parallel, series and combined series-parallel configurations reduces the energy (electricity) consumption in the compressor by 50%, 76.8% and 88.3% respectively and consequently, reduce the significant amount of CO2 emission. Comparative exegetic analysis based on modified Gouy-Stodola law was performed which predicted higher irreversibility rate as compared to conventional approach. The thermoeconomic study shows that annual cost of the plant operation is 13.8%, 20.9% and 24.7% less for parallel, series and combined series-parallel configurations respectively as compared to equivalent VCRS (vapor compression refrigeration system) and after optimization, the same is further reduced by 8.1%, 8.5% and 4.7% respectively from the base value. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.