Cold Climate Field Testing of Heat Pump Water Heaters

Energy 350 was selected by Fortis BC, BC Hydro, BC Ministry of Energy & Mines and Natural Resources of Canada to install and field test 12 heat pump water heaters in various Canadian climates. Climates include temperate coastal areas, more moderate inland climates and cold mountain climates. Technologies included traditional refrigerant integrated heat pump water heaters as well as split system CO₂ heat pump water heaters.

We installed all systems, as well as remote monitoring equipment, gathering 1-minute interval data on complete system performance. In total, we collected and analyzed over 75 million data points. The study found that heat pump water heaters are a viable means of water heating even in cold climates.

Available downloads:
Presentation
Full report