How efficient is an EE system?
The performance of the heat pump unit is rated by its Coefficient of Performance which calculates how much energy is required to transfer heat into a building. Units are tested under the CSA C446, ARI 320, ARI 325 or ISO 13126 standards. In Canada, units cannot be sold if they rate below 2.8 CoP and many units achieve 3.5 or above. If the CoP is 3.5, a system requires 1 kW of electrical energy to transfer and deliver 3,500 W of space heat; this is equivalent to a combustion furnace with an efficiency of 380 percent.
