Ground- and Water-Source Heat Pumps and Internal Water-Loop Heat Pumps
Amendments to Energy Efficiency Regulations

Bulletin Update – January, 2005

Ground- and water-source heat pumps and internal water-loop heat pumps are prescribed as regulated products under Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations), under which dealers of these products are required to comply with minimum energy performance requirements for equipment imported or shipped between provinces and territories for sale or lease in Canada.

In 2003, NRCan undertook a study to assess the economics and technical feasibility of higher minimum energy performance standards. NRCan proposes to amend the Regulations to incorporate more stringent efficiency requirements for ground- and water-source heat pumps and internal water-loop heat pumps. The purpose of this bulletin is to update stakeholders on comments received and the proposed content of amendments that are expected to be pre-published in the Canada Gazette Part I, early in 2005.

Product Description

Water-loop heat pumps are used to heat and cool commercial buildings. This equipment allows simultaneous heating and cooling of different spaces within a building. Ground source heat pumps use a buried or submerged heat exchanger loop and when installed in this way are called closed loop. These heat pumps can also be used with well or surface water in an open system. The proposed regulations apply to products that do not exceed 40 kilowatts (135,000 Btu/h) in cooling or heating capacity.

Energy Performance Test Procedure

Test method CAN/CSA-C13256-1-01 "Water-source heat pumps – Testing and rating for performance – Part 1: Water-to-air and brine-to-air heat pumps" has been approved by the CSA Technical Committee on Renewables as the appropriate standard for measuring the performance of these heat pumps. NRCan proposes that the Regulations will be amended to reference this test method. The standard is available in French and English from:

Canadian Standards Association
5060 Spectrum Way, Suite 100
Mississauga, ON  L4W 5N6
Tel.: 1 800 463-6727
In Toronto, call (416) 747-4000
Web site: http://csa.ca

or to purchase online at www.csa.ca

Comments Received

As a result of the previous bulletin and efforts of the Earth Energy Association of Canada, the following comments were received:

1. Mimimum efficiency requirements higher than those in CSA C13256-1 and ASHRAE 90.1 for closed loop ground-source heat pumps, would make GSHP less competitive with lower efficiency heating and cooling alternatives.
2. Additional time is required for design and testing of ground-source heat pumps to meet the new minimum requirements.
3. The proposed efficiency levels in CSA-C13256-1 are inconsistent with ASHRAE 90.1 for equipment less than 5 kw.

Revised Proposed Energy Efficiency Standards

NRCan is proposing that internal water loop heat pumps and ground – and water-source heat pumps manufactured on or after the effective date must meet the minimum Coefficient of Performance (COP) for heating and cooling as specified in column 2 of Table 1.

The COP values in Table 1 have been adjusted in response to comments received.

Note: COPc relates to cooling and COPh relates to heating.

Effective Dates

NRCan is proposing that these minimum energy efficiency standards for ground-source (open and closed-loop) heat pumps come into effect on June 1, 2006.

For internal water-loop heat pumps, the amendment will come into effect on September 1, 2005.

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