What is COP in the heat pump?

COP (coefficient of performance) is the heat a heat pump delivers divided by the electricity it uses, at one specific temperature. A COP of 3 means three units of heat for every unit of electricity. Electric baseboard heaters have a COP of 1, which is why heat pumps cost much less to run.

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🌡️ COP Changes with the Weather

The colder it is outside, the harder a heat pump works to pull heat in, so COP drops. A cold-climate heat pump is built to keep its COP well above 1 in a Canadian winter.

Outdoor temperature Typical COP, cold-climate heat pump
8°C About 3 to 4
-8°C About 2 to 3
-15°C About 1.75 to 2.5
-25°C About 1.2 to 1.8

Typical ranges; each model differs. ENERGY STAR's cold-climate designation requires a COP of at least 1.75 at -15°C.

⚖️ COP vs HSPF

COP is a snapshot at one temperature. HSPF2 is a seasonal average. Dividing HSPF2 by 3.412 gives an approximate seasonal COP. For Ontario, look at both: the seasonal rating for running cost, and COP at -15°C for performance on cold nights.

💡 What COP Means for Your Bills

Heat source Heat per unit of electricity
Electric baseboard or furnace 1
Heat pump at COP 2 2 (half the electricity)
Heat pump at COP 3 3 (a third of the electricity)

💡 Homes on electric baseboard or an electric furnace save the most when switching, and qualify for the largest heat pump rebates.

Learn more about cold-climate heat pumps or browse ductless and central heat pumps.

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