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ENERGY STAR
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  2. Energy Efficient Products
  3. Heat Pump Water Heaters
  4. Heat Pump Equipment and Central ACs Key Product Criteria

Heat Pump Equipment and Central ACs Key Product Criteria

Product TypeSpecification
Heat Pump Equipment (HP)≥ 7.8 HSPF2/ ≥15.2 SEER2/ ≥11.7 EER2 for split systems
≥ 7.2 HSPF2 ≥15.2 SEER2/ ≥10.6 EER2 for single package equipment including gas/electric package units.
Central Air Conditioners (CAC) ≥15.2 SEER2/ ≥12.0 EER2 for split systems
≥15.2 SEER2/ ≥11.5 EER2 for single package equipment including gas/electric package units.

Cold Climate Requirements

Product TypeSpecification
HP Split Systems
(Non-Ducted)
≥ 8.5 HSPF2/ ≥15.2 SEER2
HP Split Systems
(Ducted)
≥ 8.1 HSPF2/ ≥15.2 SEER2
HP Single Package
Equipment
≥ 8.1 HSPF2/ ≥15.2 SEER2

ii. Cold Climate Heat Pumps Low Ambient Performance: To earn the Cold Climate designation, heat pumps must demonstrate low ambient performance by meeting the following:

  • COP at 5° F ≥ 1.75, measured in accordance with Appendix M15 H42 test.
  • Percent of Heating Capacity at 5°F ≥ 70% of that at 47°F, with the 5° F capacity measured per Appendix M1 H42 test and the 47°F capacity measured as the nominal heating capacity per Appendix M1 (i.e., from the Appendix M1 H1N test for units having a variable-speed compressor where the compressor speed shall be the maximum speed that the system controls would operate at 47°F, otherwise from the Appendix M1 H12 test)
  • Perform a controls verification procedure (CVP) to confirm that the above performance metrics measured at the Appendix M1 low ambient test point at 5° F are achieved by the native controls operating as they would in a customer’s home.

Central Air Conditioner (CAC) or Central Air Conditioning Heat Pump (HP)1:
A product, other than a packaged terminal air conditioner or packaged terminal heat pump, which is powered by single phase electric current, air cooled, rated below 65,000 Btu per hour, not contained within the same cabinet as a furnace, the rated capacity of which is above 225,000 Btu per hour, and is a heat pump or a cooling unit only. A central air conditioner or central air conditioning heat pump may consist of: A single-package unit; an outdoor unit and one or more indoor units; an indoor unit only; or an outdoor unit with no match. In the case of an indoor unit only or an outdoor unit with no match, the unit must be tested and rated as a system (combination of both an indoor and an outdoor unit).

Single Package 2:
A single package unit is an air source heat pump or central air conditioner that has all major assemblies enclosed in a single cabinet.

Split System 2:
Any air conditioner or heat pump that has at least two separate assemblies that are connected with refrigerant piping when installed. One of these assemblies includes an indoor coil that exchanges heat with the indoor air to provide heating or cooling, while one of the others includes an outdoor coil that exchanges heat with the outdoor air. Split systems may be either blower coil systems or coil-only systems.

Heating Seasonal Performance Factor 2 (HSPF2) 3:
HSPF2 is the total space heating required in region IV during the space heating season, expressed in Btu, divided by the total electrical energy consumed by the heat pump system during the same season, expressed in watt-hours. The represented value of HSPF determined in accordance with Appendix M1 is HSPF2, and the represented value in accordance with Appendix M is HSPF.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2 (SEER2) 3:
SEER2 is the total heat removed from the conditioned space during the annual cooling season, expressed in Btu, divided by the total electrical energy consumed by the air conditioner or heat pump during the same season, expressed in watt-hours. The represented value determined in accordance with Appendix M1 is SEER2, and the represented value in accordance with Appendix M is SEER.

Energy Efficiency Ratio 2 (EER2) 3:
EER2 is the ratio of the average rate of space cooling delivered to the average rate of electrical energy consumed by the air conditioner or heat pump. This ratio is expressed in Btu per Wh (Btu/Wh). The represented value determined in accordance with appendix M1 is EER2, and the represented value determined in accordance with Appendix M is EER.


1 10 CFR part 430, Subpart A, § 430.2 Definitions

2 10 CFR part 430 Subpart B, Appendix M

3 Based on definition in 10 CFR part 430 Subpart B, Appendix M 

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