Upgrading your home with energy-efficient systems like heat pumps saves you money on electricity bills while minimizing carbon emissions. And, incentive and rebate programs like those included in the Inflation Reduction Act make the decision to tap into the financial and environmental benefits of heat pumps even simpler. But between the different makes and models, various features, and technical energy efficiency ratings, it’s easy to feel lost when researching and comparing heat pump systems. 

Specifically, the various energy efficiency ratings can cause confusion. Although a heat pump is capable of both heating and cooling, the different functions require different amounts of energy and therefore use separate efficiency calculations: SEER and HSPF. In this article, we explain what HSPF means, how heating systems are rated for energy efficiency during the colder months, and when investing in a highly efficient heat pump is actually worth it.