Heat pump equipment manufacturers provide what type of ratings for their equipment?

Heat pump equipment manufacturers provide HSPF (Heating Season Performance Factor) ratings for their equipment, which is a specific metric used to measure the efficiency of heat pumps in heating mode. The HSPF rating is calculated by taking the total heating output in British Thermal Units (BTUs) during the heating season and dividing it by the total electricity consumed in watt-hours during the same period. This allows homeowners and contractors to understand how efficiently a heat pump will operate when providing heat, indicating its performance and potential energy savings during colder months.

While SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is indeed an important rating, it is specifically used for cooling efficiency in air conditioners and heat pumps. AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is primarily applied to heating appliances like furnaces and boilers that use fuel to produce heat, while IER (Integrated Energy Efficiency Ratio) pertains more to overall efficiency rather than exclusively focusing on heating performance. Hence, HSPF is the appropriate measure for assessing heat pump efficiency in heating applications.