Ratings & Efficiency
What Is HSPF2?
HSPF2 (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor 2) rates how much heat an air-source heat pump delivers per watt-hour of electricity across a heating season. It is the heating counterpart to SEER2 and, like SEER2, replaced its predecessor in 2023 under a higher-static-pressure test. Higher numbers mean less electricity for the same heat.
Also called: Heating Seasonal Performance Factor 2 · HSPF
Why it matters to you
Since January 1, 2023 a new split-system heat pump must reach at least 7.5 HSPF2 nationally — heat pumps have no regional split. Eastern North Carolina's mild winters are close to ideal heat-pump territory: the system spends most of the season in its efficient range and only occasionally needs backup heat, so a stronger HSPF2 translates into fewer hours on expensive electric resistance heat.
What to do about it
On a heat-pump quote, read HSPF2 and SEER2 together — the same box does both jobs. Ask what the system's rated capacity is at a cold outdoor temperature, not just at 47°F, and ask where the balance point lands.
By the numbers
| Rating | Applies to | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| HSPF2 | Split-system heat pump, national | 7.5 |
| SEER2 | Split-system heat pump, national | 14.3 |
Heat-pump rating minimums (since January 1, 2023)
Common questions
- What is the minimum HSPF2 for a heat pump in North Carolina?
- 7.5 HSPF2 for a split-system heat pump, effective January 1, 2023. Unlike central air conditioners, heat pumps are not subject to regional DOE minimums — the same national standard applies in North Carolina as everywhere else. Packaged heat pumps have their own separate figure.
- Is a heat pump a sensible choice on the Crystal Coast?
- The climate suits them. Heat pumps lose capacity as outdoor temperature falls, which is what makes them harder to size in very cold regions. Eastern North Carolina's winters are mild enough that a correctly sized heat pump covers most of the heating season on compressor heat alone, with backup heat reserved for the coldest stretches.
- How much difference does HSPF2 make?
- By rating arithmetic, a 9.0 HSPF2 heat pump uses about 17% less electricity for the same seasonal heat than a 7.5 HSPF2 one (1 − 7.5/9.0). How that lands on your bill depends on how many heating hours your house actually runs and how often the backup heat engages, which is a function of sizing and balance point as much as the rating.
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