Heat Pump COP Calculator
Calculate the coefficient of performance (COP) of a heat pump and compare operating costs to conventional heating.
Coefficient of Performance
3.52 COP
Coefficient of Performance vs Electricity Rate
Formula
## How to Calculate Heat Pump COP COP measures how efficiently a heat pump converts electricity into heat. ### Formula **COP = Heat Output (BTU/hr) / (Electrical Input (W) * 3.412)** A COP of 3 means the heat pump produces 3 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity. This is possible because heat pumps move existing heat rather than generating it. ### Typical COP Values - Air-source heat pump: 2.5-4.0 - Ground-source (geothermal): 3.5-5.0 - Resistance heating: 1.0
Exemplo Resolvido
A heat pump producing 36,000 BTU/hr using 3,000W of electricity, running 2,000 hours/year at $0.15/kWh.
- 01COP: 36,000 / (3,000 * 3.412) = 36,000 / 10,236 = 3.52
- 02Annual electricity: 3,000 * 2,000 / 1,000 = 6,000 kWh
- 03Heat pump cost: 6,000 * $0.15 = $900
- 04Gas furnace equivalent: 36,000 * 2,000 / 100,000 * $1.50 / 0.92 = $1,174
Perguntas Frequentes
What is a good COP for a heat pump?
A COP of 3.0+ is good for air-source heat pumps. Ground-source systems can achieve 4.0-5.0. COP decreases as outdoor temperature drops for air-source units.
How does COP relate to HSPF?
HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) is the seasonal average efficiency. COP is measured at a specific condition. Roughly, HSPF / 3.412 = seasonal average COP.
Do heat pumps work below freezing?
Modern cold-climate heat pumps maintain efficiency down to -15F or lower. Older models lost significant capacity below 30F, but newer variable-speed compressors have largely solved this.