Assessing heat pump performance data requirements in cold Canadian climates
Supporting air-source (air-air) heat pump adoption in Canada requires appropriate performance reporting approaches that highlight regional differences and identify systems that meet desired objectives. This paper uses a simulation-based approach to examine how different heat pump data reporting approaches influence estimations of heating energy use and system sizing in the cold Canadian climate. Performance curves are developed using (i) AHRI 210/240 minimum data, (ii) Canada’s Amendment 17 to AHRI 210/240, and (iii) full manufacturer performance tables. Curves are simulated across four regions, five archetypes and three construction vintages to assess relevant parameters. Results highlight the strong importance of the added cold climate capacity points, provided in Amendment 17 and manufacturer data, for improving energy performance predictions and system sizing. Key recommendations include the need for (1) extending performance data reporting to temperatures below -15°C and (2) increasing COP reporting to match capacity data.