How to Determine COP From HSFP

Heat pumps do exactly what their name suggests -- they transfer heat energy from one place to another. Typically used in residential heating systems, heat pumps consume a modest amount of power during operation, but deliver a proportionately greater amount of heat energy to the interior of a building from the outside environment. The most efficient heat pumps transfer up to three times as much energy as they consume. Common measures of heat-pump efficiency are the Coefficient of Performance, or COP, and the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF.

Things You'll Need

• HSPF data
• Calculator

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Note the HSPF value that you need to convert. This is expressed in British thermal units, or BTU, per watt-hour and is generally below 10.

   • 2

     Divide the HSPF by 3,600, the number of joules in 1 watt-hour. Multiply your answer by 1,055.1, the number of joules in 1 BTU. Record the result, which is the COP of the heat pump, determined from the HSPF.

   • 3

     Check your math. For example, if the HSPF is 8.5, then the COP is 2.49.