In short
The NEEP cold-climate heat pump list is a free online database of air-source heat pumps that meet a cold-climate specification: a variable-capacity compressor and a COP of at least 1.75 at -15°C. Each listing shows how much heat the model produces at 8.3°C, -8.3°C and -15°C, which is the information a sales brochure leaves out.
The NEEP cold-climate heat pump list is where a technician looks up what a heat pump does when it is properly cold outside, instead of at the mild conditions used for the label ratings. Anyone can search it by brand and model number. It is one of several rating terms in our HVAC glossary that turn up on heat pump quotes.
What it takes for a heat pump to get on the NEEP list
A heat pump is listed only if it meets a published specification, which makes 'cold-climate' a spec class and not a marketing word. NEEP is a non-profit based in the northeastern United States, and its specification is voluntary. For a standard residential central heat pump, the requirements are:
- A variable-capacity inverter compressor, meaning three or more speeds or continuously variable
- A COP of at least 1.75 at -15°C (5°F) while running at maximum capacity
- A minimum seasonal rating of HSPF2 7.7 for ducted systems and 8.5 for ductless
- Capacity and power data reported at a fixed set of outdoor temperatures
The figures are supplied by the manufacturer from lab testing or engineering data. NEEP does not test the equipment itself. Single-stage and two-stage heat pumps cannot qualify, whatever the brochure says about cold weather.
How to read a NEEP listing
Go straight to the heating performance table. It shows minimum, rated and maximum output at 47°F (8.3°C), 17°F (-8.3°C) and 5°F (-15°C), plus the lowest temperature the manufacturer publishes data for. The site works in Fahrenheit and BTU per hour. These are the figures that matter for an Ontario house:
- Maximum heating capacity at -15°C: compare it with your home's calculated heat loss
- Capacity maintenance: maximum output at -15°C divided by rated output at 8.3°C, so a 3-ton unit rated 36,000 BTU per hour that still makes 22,000 is holding about 61%
- COP at -15°C: 1.75 is the entry requirement, and stronger models sit above 2
- Lowest catalogued temperature: how far down the manufacturer has published performance data
- HSPF2 for Region IV and for Region V, shown side by side
A 3-ton unit that keeps under two-thirds of its capacity at -15°C will lean hard on backup heat in a cold snap. Each listing also applies to one specific pairing of outdoor unit and indoor coil or air handler. The same outdoor unit matched with a different indoor unit is a different listing with different numbers, so check that both model numbers on your quote appear together.
How the NEEP list relates to Ontario heat pump rebates
The NEEP list is a sizing and comparison tool, not the rebate list. Ontario's Home Renovation Savings Program requires a cold-climate air-source heat pump to be on Natural Resources Canada's qualified products list, and the installer has to be a participating contractor with approval in place before the work starts. A model appearing on NEEP does not make it rebate-eligible on its own. Use the federal list for eligibility and the NEEP data to judge whether the unit can heat your house.
What to ask for on a heat pump quote
Ask the contractor for two documents: the NEEP listing for the exact model combination, and the heat-loss figure the system was sized against. If the maximum capacity at -15°C is well short of the heat loss, ask what covers the gap and what it costs to run. A 3-ton cold-climate heat pump installs for $9,500–$15,000, so the answer is worth having in writing.
ZK Mechanical attaches the cold-temperature performance data to each heat pump installation quote and confirms rebate eligibility before you sign. If you have a model number and want it looked up, send it to us.
Questions people ask about NEEP cold-climate heat pump list
Is a heat pump that is not on the NEEP list a bad heat pump?
Not necessarily. Single-stage and two-stage heat pumps cannot be listed, and they can still work well in a hybrid system where a gas furnace takes over in cold weather. For a heat pump that is expected to carry most of an Ontario winter by itself, a missing listing is a reason to ask the manufacturer for low-temperature capacity data before buying.
Is the NEEP list the same as ENERGY STAR Cold Climate?
No. They are separate programs with their own criteria. ENERGY STAR Cold Climate is a certification mark, while the NEEP list is a searchable database with detailed performance tables. A NEEP listing records whether the model also carries the ENERGY STAR Cold Climate designation, so one lookup shows both.
Does the NEEP list tell me what size heat pump I need?
No. It tells you how much heat each model produces at different outdoor temperatures. To choose a size you need the other half of the comparison: your home's heat loss at the local winter design temperature, from a room-by-room calculation. The right unit is the one whose capacity at that temperature meets or comes close to the calculated loss.