The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) does not currently assign energy conservation points to air-source heat pumps in the prescriptive trade-off path of Section 9.36. This proposed change would establish the number of energy conservation points assigned to air-source heat pumps for various heating load capacity and equipment efficiencies.
Failure to assign energy conservation points to air-source heat pumps would not allow Code users to obtain energy conservation points associated with the energy savings from installing a high-efficiency air-source heat pump unless they use the performance compliance path.
In order to accumulate the total number of energy conservation points required to demonstrate compliance with higher tiers, Code users should have additional options for energy conservation measures than those currently provided in the Code.
Choice of an air-source heat pump contributes to energy savings in a building. Code users who choose to install a high-efficiency air-source heat pump will benefit from the additional energy savings provided by the equipment when complying with the prescriptive trade-off path in Section 9.36.
If energy conservation points are assigned to air-source heat pumps, Code users will benefit from this additional option for demonstrating compliance with a higher energy performance tier in the prescriptive trade-off path.
Failure to add additional energy conservation measures might prevent Code users from accumulating sufficient points to comply with higher tiers, as required by their respective jurisdictions.
Energy Conservation Measures for Ventilation Systems – Sensible Heat-Recovery Efficiency, SREPROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.8.9. Footnote (1) | Heating Degree-Days of Building Location, in Celsius Degree-Days | |||||
Zone 4 < 3000 |
Zone 5 3000 to 3999 |
Zone 6 4000 to 4999 |
Zone 7A 5000 to 5999 |
Zone 7B 6000 to 6999 |
Zone 8 ≥ 7000 |
|
Energy Conservation Points | ||||||
60% ≤ SRE < 65% | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.4 |
65% ≤ SRE < 75% | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 1.2 |
75% ≤ SRE < 84% | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 1.8 |
Energy Conservation Measures for Air Source Heat Pumps – Heating Seasonal Performance Factor 2 for Region V, HSPF2 VPROPOSED CHANGE Table Footnote (1) | Minimum Air Source Heat Pump Capacity/Load FractionPROPOSED CHANGE Table Footnote (2) | Heating Degree-Days of Building Location, in Celsius Degree-Days | |||||
Zone 4 < 3000 |
Zone 5 3000 to 3999 |
Zone 6 4000 to 4999 |
Zone 7A 5000 to 5999 |
Zone 7B 6000 to 6999 |
Zone 8 ≥ 7000 |
||
Energy Conservation Points | |||||||
5.2 | 60% | 28.6 | 22.9 | 20.5 | 18.4 | 19.9 | 10.7 |
6.7 | 30.8 | 25.3 | 22.9 | 20.6 | 22.2 | 12.3 | |
7.6 | 32.1 | 26.8 | 24.4 | 22.0 | 23.6 | 13.3 | |
8.3 | 33.1 | 28.0 | 25.6 | 23.0 | 24.7 | 14.0 | |
9.6 | 35.0 | 30.1 | 27.7 | 24.9 | 26.7 | 15.4 |
Heating Degree-Days of Building Location, in Celsius Degree-Days | |||||
Zone 4 < 3000 |
Zone 5 3000 to 3999 |
Zone 6 4000 to 4999 |
Zone 7A 5000 to 5999 |
Zone 7B 6000 to 6999 |
Zone 8 ≥ 7000 |
Energy Conservation PointsPROPOSED CHANGE Table Footnote (1) | |||||
17.7 + (0.0647 F) + (1.46 HSPF2 V) | 2.4+(0.198 F) + (1.65 HSPF2 V) | (0.198 F) + (1.65 HSPF2 V) | (0.180 F) + (1.47 HSPF2 V) | 3.0+(0.147 F) + (1.55 HSPF2 V) | −4.7 + (0.165 F) + (1.06 HSPF2 V) |
Energy Conservation Measures for Air Source Heat Pumps – Heating Seasonal Performance Factor 2 for Region V, HSPF2 VPROPOSED CHANGE Table Footnote (1) | Minimum Air Source Heat Pump Capacity/Load FractionPROPOSED CHANGE Table Footnote (2) | Heating Degree-Days of Building Location, in Celsius Degree-Days | |||||
Zone 4 < 3000 |
Zone 5 3000 to 3999 |
Zone 6 4000 to 4999 |
Zone 7A 5000 to 5999 |
Zone 7B 6000 to 6999 |
Zone 8 ≥ 7000 |
||
Energy Conservation Points | |||||||
6.7 | 60% | 33.8 | 34.2 | 31.3 | 29.5 | 28.5 | 19.6 |
7.6 | 35.2 | 36.2 | 33.2 | 31.4 | 30.3 | 21.0 | |
8.3 | 36.3 | 37.7 | 34.8 | 32.9 | 31.6 | 22.1 | |
9.6 | 38.3 | 40.5 | 37.6 | 35.5 | 34.2 | 24.2 |
Heating Degree-Days of Building Location, in Celsius Degree-Days | |||||
Zone 4 < 3000 |
Zone 5 3000 to 3999 |
Zone 6 4000 to 4999 |
Zone 7A 5000 to 5999 |
Zone 7B 6000 to 6999 |
Zone 8 ≥ 7000 |
Energy Conservation PointsPROPOSED CHANGE Table Footnote (1) | |||||
22.5 + (0.0112 F) + (1.58 HSPF2 V) | 16.6 + (0.0523 F) + (2.16 HSPF2 V) | 12.8 + (0.0657 F) + (2.17 HSPF2 V) | 12.4 + (0.0546 F) + (2.07 HSPF2 V) | 13.1 + (0.0338 F) + (1.99 HSPF2 V) | 6.8 + (0.0397 F) + (1.56 HSPF2 V) |
This proposed change would improve the affordability of complying with the energy performance tiers through the prescriptive path by increasing the number of measures eligible for points and allowing Code users to obtain credit for the energy savings associated with installing a high-efficiency air-source heat pump.
Installing higher efficiency air-source heat pump results in substantial increase in energy savings relative to the increase in equipment cost, as shown in Tables 1 and 2. When choosing to install a higher efficiency air-source heat pump, Code users would benefit from receiving the assigned energy conservation points for that equipment to contribute to demonstrating compliance with a higher energy tier of the prescriptive trade-off path.
Table 1. Cost of Regular Air-Source Heat Pumps
HSPF2(1)(2) | Energy Savings (%) | Cost of Air-Source Heat Pumps ($) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BC | AB | SK and MB | ON | QC | Atlantic Canada | Northern Canada | ||
5.2(a) | 10.7–28.6 | 5,200 | 5,200 | 5,200 | 5,200 | 5,200 | 5,200 | 5,200 |
6.7(b) | 12.3–30.8 | 5,800 | 5,800 | 5,800 | 5,800 | 5,800 | 5,800 | 5,800 |
7.6(c) | 13.3–32.1 | 6,806 | 6,806 | 6,806 | 6,806 | 6,806 | 6,806 | 6,806 |
8.3(d) | 14.0–33.1 | 10,268 | 10,268 | 10,268 | 10,268 | 10,268 | 10,268 | 10,268 |
9.6(e) | 15.4–35.0 | 12,738 | 12,738 | 12,738 | 12,738 | 12,738 | 12,738 | 12,738 |
Sources: www.rsl.ca (a), www.hvactrust.ca (d) and (e), www.pickhvac.com/heat-pump/ (b) and (c); prices listed were in effect on July 31, 2023, and do not include installation, taxes or fees.
Notes to Table 1:
(1) HSPF2 = heating seasonal performance factor 2
(2) Equipment:
(a) Ducane 1.5 ton, single stage, 4HP14B
(b) Carrier Comfort 25HCD3, single-stage
(c) Bryant Legacy 213C, single-stage
(d) Lennox EL22XPV, 2 ton, 24000 BTU
(e) Lennox EL22XPV, 4 ton, 48000 BTU
Table 2. Cost of Cold Climate Air-Source Heat Pumps
HSPF2(1)(2) | Energy Savings (%) | Cost of Air-Source Heat Pumps ($) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BC | AB | SK and MB | ON | QC | Atlantic Canada | Northern Canada | ||
6.7(a) | 19.6–34.2 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 7,000 |
7.6(b) | 21.0–36.2 | 17,946 | 17,946 | 17,946 | 17,946 | 17,946 | 17,946 | 17,946 |
8.3(c) | 22.1–37.7 | 24,008 | 24,008 | 24,008 | 24,008 | 24,008 | 24,008 | 24,008 |
9.6(d) | 24.2–40.5 | 24,008 | 24,008 | 24,008 | 24,008 | 24,008 | 24,008 | 24,008 |
Sources: www.rsl.ca (a) and www.1clickheat.com (b), (c) and (d). The prices were in effect on July 31, 2023, and do not include installation, taxes or fees.
Notes to Table 2:
(1) HSPF2 = heating seasonal performance factor 2
(2) Equipment:
(a) Ducane 2.5 ton - 4HP15L
(b) Tosot Apex Central Heat Pumps, TU60-48WADU - TUD48-24AH2ADU – 48000 BTU capacity
(c) and (d) Mitsubishi Zuba Central Hyper Heat Ducted Heat Pump, 24000 BTU capacity
Cold climate air-source heat pumps are generally more expensive than regular air-source heat pumps as they have been technologically improved for application in challenging and harsh climates.
Code users who choose to install regular air-source heat pump would be credited with between 10.7 and 37 energy conservation points, which represents percentage energy savings and would cost between $5,200 and $12,738. Similarly, Code users who choose to install cold climate air-source heat pumps would be credited with between 19.6 and 40.5 energy conservation points for an expense of between $7,000 and $24,000.
This proposed change could be enforced using the existing Code enforcement infrastructure.
Designers, engineers, architects, builders and building officials.