SEER2 standard since 2023LogisVert, guide v1.10 of September 15, 2026Rate D 2026
Guide to efficiency ratings · Updated September 24, 2026
What is SEER? The summer number, and the three that matter in winter.
SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio), TRES in French, measures how efficient a heat pump or air conditioner is over a whole summer. Since 2023, it has been measured as SEER2. In Quebec, though, winter weighs the most on the bill. This page decodes the four numbers on a spec sheet using the certified data of our models. Example: the Sharp ZHU 18,000 BTU reaches 25.0 SEER2 and gets $2,712 from LogisVert, calculated on its heat output at −8 °C, not on its SEER.
Sharp ZHU 18,000 BTUAHRI 209424784
SummerSEER2
25.0Heat wave, 35 °CEER2
13.0WinterHSPF2 (Region IV)
11.5Deep cold, −15 °CCOP
2.20Heat at −8 °CCapacity (LogisVert basis)
22,600ENERGY STAR cold climate · R-32 · ENERGY STAR certified data, read on September 24, 2026
14.3 SEER2the minimum in Canada for a split heat pump manufactured since 2025
15.2 SEER2the ENERGY STAR threshold, required by LogisVert since November 26, 2025
$0what SEER adds to the LogisVert calculation: the rebate follows heat output at −8 °C
35.1SEER2, the highest ENERGY STAR rating for mini split or multizone
54%of the electricity in an electrically heated home goes to heating and cooling
2.20COP at −15 °C of our Sharp 18,000 units: 2.2 kWh of heat per kWh paid
$120per 1,000 BTU/h at −8 °C for a cold-climate model
On this page · 15 sections in 4 chapters
Chapter 1 · Understand
01SEER in 30 seconds02The wall-mounted heat pump in a diagram03Spec sheet decoder04The ratings thermometer
Chapter 2 · SEER or SEER2
Chapter 3 · Compare and calculate
07Ranking of 6 wall units08Summer / winter simulator09The price of a kWh of heat10SEER and LogisVert
Chapter 4 · Choose and keep the efficiency
01 · SEER in 30 seconds
SEER measures what the AC gives back for every kWh you pay, over a whole summer.
The number is calculated by dividing the heat removed from the home during the cooling season by the electricity used during that same season.
In EnglishSEERSeasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
In FrenchTRESTaux de rendement énergétique saisonnier (Natural Resources Canada term)
Since 2023SEER2Same idea, measured with the new M1 test procedure
The calculation, with an 18,000 BTU/h wall unit cooling for 400 hours at full power
7,200,000 BTUheat removed from the home over the summer (18,000 × 400 h)
÷
25.0SEER2 of the Sharp ZHU (BTU removed per Wh used)
=
288 kWhof electricity for the whole summer. At 20.0 SEER2: 360 kWh.
The higher the number, the less the unit uses for the same comfort. SEER is an average over a whole cooling season, at different outdoor temperatures, not a measurement taken on a single hot day. It applies to every type: wall-mounted heat pump (mini split), multizone, central or air conditioner.
What SEER does not tell you. It only covers summer. For winter, three other ratings matter more in Quebec: the HSPF2 (heating efficiency over the season), the COP at −15 °C and the heating capacity at −8 °C, the one LogisVert multiplies.
02 · The wall-mounted heat pump in one diagram
One unit outside, one or more units on the wall, two lines in between.
A mini split system is made of an outdoor unit and one or more indoor units, mounted on the wall or ceiling, connected by refrigerant lines and an electrical cable. It heats or cools one room at a time: that is what makes it so efficient in a home divided into rooms.
Season
Number of heads
Tap a part
Indoor unit (wall head)
Mounted on the wall or ceiling, it blows air across a coil: it filters the air, heats or cools, and drains condensation water away.
03 · The spec sheet decoder
A heat pump spec sheet, line by line: what each number means for you.
Choose one of our models, then tap a rating. The panel explains what it measures, the legal minimum, the ENERGY STAR threshold and where this model stands.
1. Choose an 18,000 BTU model (ENERGY STAR certified data)
2. Tap a rating on the spec sheet
Models: AE-X18ZHU / AY-XP18ZHU · AHRI 209424784. See the product page
Summer
SEER2 · seasonal energy efficiency ratio
25.0
Sharp ZHU · BTU removed from the home per Wh used, over the whole summer
ENERGY STAR 15.2
Median 22
14.3 minimum35.1 record
What it measuresThe heat removed from the home over the summer, divided by the electricity used.
Minimum in Canada14.3 (split heat pump manufactured since 2025)
ENERGY STAR threshold15.2
Our reading for MontrealSharp ZHU: 25.0 SEER2, above the median of certified 18,000 wall units (22). A good summer score, which carries little weight on the annual bill in Quebec.
04 · The ratings thermometer
Each rating is measured at its own temperature. Montreal’s cold starts at the bottom of the thermometer.
SEER2 is a summer average, EER2 is measured at 35 °C, LogisVert looks at −8 °C and cold-climate certification at −15 °C. Tap a temperature to see the value of the selected model.
Model shown
−8.3 °C · 17 °F
Heat at −8 °C
22,600 BTU/h
Sharp ZHU: The number LogisVert multiplies: $2,712 for this model, at the cold-climate rate.
05 · What changed in 2023
SEER2 replaced SEER: same idea, a test closer to a real home.
The two numbers cannot be compared directly. An old 15 SEER and a 14.3 SEER2 represent the same minimum requirement: the scale changed, not the unit.
January 5, 2017M1 procedureThe U.S. Department of Energy publishes the new test procedure (SEER2, EER2, HSPF2).
January 1, 2023SEER2 mandatoryThe end of SEER: official ratings are measured in SEER2, in the United States and in Canada.
January 1, 2025Canadian minimumSplit heat pump: at least 14.3 SEER2 and 6.0 HSPF2 (Region V), with a mandatory test at −15 °C.
November 26, 2025LogisVertA heat pump must be ENERGY STAR certified to receive Hydro-Québec’s rebate.
February 2, 2026ENERGY STAR 6.2Revised specification: 15.2 SEER2 minimum; the central air conditioner section is removed.
September 15, 2026LogisVert guide v1.10Current version of the residential participation guide.
SEER (before 2023)
SEER2 (since 2023)
Test procedure
Appendix M (DOE)
Appendix M1 (DOE), adopted in Canada
Duct pressure
Low, far from real homes
Up to 5 times higher for a ducted central system (AHRI)
Ductless wall unit
Same unit…
…rating often close, sometimes lower
Heating
HSPF
HSPF2 (new load curve)
2023 requirement, split heat pump
15 SEER and 8.8 HSPF
14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2: the same requirement, on the new scale
Approximate converter
≈ 24.5
Estimated SEER2 (factor 1.00)
ReadingAbove the ENERGY STAR threshold of 15.2 SEER2, if the certificate confirms it.
Approximate factors published by AHRI (wall unit 1.00; central or ducted 0.95). An exact conversion is impossible: the real rating is the certified SEER2. Real example: GREE Extreme 18,000, 24.5 SEER on the brochure, 22.0 SEER2 certified.
06 · The SEER2 scale
From 14.3 to 35.1: slide your number and see where it stands.
The Canadian minimum, the ENERGY STAR threshold, the certified market median and the record: four markers are enough to read any spec sheet.
MinimumCanada
ENERGY STARLogisVert
2218k median
35.1record
22.0
Above the median. 38% of certified combinations reach 22 SEER2 or more.
Dark dots on the scale: our six certified 18,000 wall units, from 20.0 to 25.0 SEER2.
Where certified wall and multizone units stand
Share of the 17,699 ENERGY STAR “mini or multi split” combinations, by SEER2 band (ENERGY STAR database, September 24, 2026).
5.5%below 18 SEER2
19.2%18 to 20 SEER2
19.9%20 to 21 SEER2
17.2%21 to 22 SEER2
27.8%22 to 25 SEER2
10.4%25 SEER2 and up
The official markers
Marker
SEER2
Split central air conditioner, Canadian minimum
13.4
Split heat pump, Canadian minimum (manufactured since 2025)
14.3
ENERGY STAR, standard or cold climate
15.2
Median, certified single-zone 18,000 wall units
22
Highest certified rating, mini split or multizone category
35.1
The old “13 to 40” range no longer holds: below 14.3 SEER2, a new split heat pump can no longer be sold in Canada.
07 · The ranking
The summer champion is not always the winter champion.
Rank our six 18,000 wall units by the rating of your choice. The LG Dualcool Prestige is 2nd on SEER2 (24.0) and last for heat at −8 °C (13,100 BTU/h).
Summer. Sharp ZHU leads with 25.0. Between 1st and 6th, the gap is worth a few dollars per summer.
Six 18,000 BTU wall-mounted heat pumps sold by AirGreen, all ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified. Values from the ENERGY STAR database (September 24, 2026).
My priorities
Give each season a weight
1stSharp ZHUScore 100 / 100See the product
2ndSharp ZU1Score 86 / 100See the product
3rdFUJITSU AIRSTAGE LMAS1Score 41 / 100See the product
AirGreen comparison score: each rating scaled from 0 to 100 across these six models, then weighted by your sliders.
08 · The summer / winter simulator
Going from 20 to 25 SEER2 is worth a few dollars per summer. In winter, the gap is several times larger.
Pick two units, set your summer and your winter. The calculation uses their SEER2 for summer, their HSPF2 for winter and Hydro-Québec’s 2026 rates.
Unit A
Unit B
Summer: your usage
Summer price per kWh
Winter: your usage
Tip: compare your winter and summer kWh on your Hydro-Québec bill.Winter price per kWh
Head to head, line by line
Rating
Sharp ZHU
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE RLXFWH
SEER2
25.0
20.0
EER2
13.0
13.3
HSPF2 (IV)
11.5
10.0
COP −15 °C
2.20
2.18
Heat at −8 °C
22,600 BTU/h
14,600 BTU/h
LogisVert
$2,712
$1,752
Refrigerant
R-32
R-410A
Editable assumptions: one 18,000 BTU wall unit, the hours and heat you choose, Rate D in effect since April 1, 2026 (7.065¢ for the first 40 kWh per day, 11.142¢ beyond), without the access charge. HSPF2 is the Region IV value, a reference winter milder than Montreal: the calculation compares two units, it does not predict your bill.
Result per year
Sharp ZHU vs FUJITSU AIRSTAGE RLXFWH
Summer, 480 h
Sharp ZHU
$24.42
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE RLXFWH
$30.52
Winter, 6,000 kWh of heat
Sharp ZHU
$198.35
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE RLXFWH
$228.10
Baseboards
$668.52
Summer gap$6.10 per summer
Winter gap$29.75 per winter
Summer calculation (Sharp ZHU)18,000 × 480 h ÷ 25.0 = 346 kWh × 7.065¢ = $24.42
Winter calculation (Sharp ZHU)6,000 kWh ÷ (11.5 ÷ 3.412) = 1,780 kWh × 11.142¢ = $198.35
With your settings, the winter gap is 4.9 times the summer gap. In Montreal, HSPF2 and COP matter more than SEER.
Book my free estimate09 · The price of a kWh of heat
At −15 °C, a kWh of heat costs almost half as much with a cold-climate heat pump.
COP makes that difference, and SEER has nothing to do with it. Compare our six models with an electric baseboard at Rate D 2026.
Electricity price per kWh
Cost of a kWh of heat = price per kWh ÷ COP at −15 °C (ENERGY STAR certified). An electric baseboard turns 1 kWh into 1 kWh of heat.
COP in one sentence
2.20
COP at −15 °C of the Sharp ZHU and ZU1
At −15 °C, they deliver 2.2 kWh of heat for every kWh paid. The ENERGY STAR cold-climate threshold is 1.75: at least 43% less electricity than a baseboard in that cold.
Baseboard (COP 1.0)11.14¢ per kWh of heat
COP 2.205.06¢ per kWh of heat
COP 1.806.19¢ per kWh of heat
10 · SEER and LogisVert
The rebate does not read SEER. It pays for the heat the unit delivers at −8 °C.
Hydro-Québec multiplies heating capacity at −8 °C by $120 per 1,000 BTU/h for an ENERGY STAR cold-climate model, or by $50 for an ENERGY STAR standard model. Without ENERGY STAR, there is no rebate.
1. Choose a model
2. Certification
The amount does not move: LogisVert does not read SEER.
Indicative LogisVert rebate
$2,712
Sharp ZHU · ENERGY STAR cold climate
The calculation22,600 BTU/h ÷ 1,000 × $120 = $2,712
SEER2 in the calculationno effect (25.0 SEER2)
ConditionsNew ENERGY STAR certified heat pump, outdoor unit of at least 12,000 BTU/h, application within 9 months of installation, rebate capped at 100% of the cost before taxes.
Simulate my LogisVert rebate18,000 model
SEER2
Heat at −8 °C
Indicative LogisVert
$120 per 1,000 BTU/h at −8 °C (ENERGY STAR cold climate) or $50 (ENERGY STAR standard), LogisVert participation guide v1.10 of September 15, 2026. Indicative amounts: only Hydro-Québec confirms the rebate granted. All rebates: federal and provincial rebates for efficient heat pumps.
11 · Why SEER matters
Three reasons to look at SEER, and the limit of each one in Quebec.
SEER affects your summer bill, your footprint and program eligibility. It does not decide the right unit on its own.
Reason 1
Your summer bills
A higher SEER uses less for the same comfort. With 480 hours at full power, an 18,000 wall unit at 25.0 SEER2 uses 346 kWh; at 20.0 SEER2, 432 kWh. It is real, but modest: about $6 per summer at the first tier of Rate D.
Run your numbers in section 08Reason 2
The environment
Less electricity used means a lighter footprint. The refrigerant matters too: our Sharp ZHU and ZU1 use R-32, with a lower global warming potential than the R-410A of earlier generations. A sealed installation prevents leaks.
Refrigerant listed on every product pageReason 3
Compliance and rebates
In Canada, the federal regulation of Natural Resources Canada sets the minimum (14.3 SEER2 for a split heat pump). For LogisVert, the unit must be ENERGY STAR certified, meaning at least 15.2 SEER2; the amount, however, depends on heat output at −8 °C.
See all rebates12 · Keeping the efficiency
You do not improve a unit’s rating: you help it hold it.
SEER is set at certification. What changes your bill is the size you choose, maintenance and the quality of the installation.
1 · The right size
Neither too small nor too large
- Too small: it strains to reach the set point and loses efficiency.
- Too large: it keeps starting and stopping (short cycling) and dehumidifies poorly in summer.
Too smallstrains
Rightsteady operation
Too largeshort cycles
2 · Maintenance
Clean filters, no leaks
- Clogged indoor filters restrict airflow and raise consumption.
- A refrigerant leak cuts capacity and efficiency.
- Regular maintenance keeps the unit close to its rating. It does not raise it: the rating is set at certification.
3 · Installation
The rating is earned at installation
- Well-made, sealed piping and a verified refrigerant charge.
- Outdoor unit clear of obstacles, above the snow.
- A drain that removes condensate without backing up.
Before you sign: six checks
0 of 6 checks done
Where to find these numbers
The AHRI number is the key.
Each outdoor unit + indoor unit combination gets an AHRI certificate number. It leads to the official ratings (SEER2, EER2, HSPF2) and to the ENERGY STAR listing. On airgreen.ca, our product pages show the AHRI number and the indicative LogisVert amount.
ExampleSharp ZHU 18,000: AHRI 209424784
MultizoneThe rating applies to the certified combination, not to a single head.
13 · The pitfalls
Six ways to misread a SEER.
Taken from real spec sheets: the brochure, the season, the rebate, the region, multizone and size.
24.5 → 22.0
The brochure SEER
On the GREE Extreme 18,000 brochure: 24.5 SEER. Certified: 22.0 SEER2. Always compare certified SEER2 values.
2nd → 6th
High SEER, weak in the cold
The LG Dualcool Prestige: 24.0 SEER2, 2nd of our six models; 13,100 BTU/h at −8 °C, last.
$0
More SEER, more rebate
False. LogisVert pays for heat at −8 °C: $120 or $50 per 1,000 BTU/h, whatever the SEER.
IV ≠ V
Two HSPF2 values for the same unit
American spec sheets give Region IV; Canada requires Region V, which is colder. The 7.5 minimum (IV) is equivalent to 6.0 (V).
1 + 1
Multizone: the rating of the whole system
A multizone rating applies to the certified combination. Changing a head changes the rating.
Too big
Oversizing “to be safe”
An oversized unit short cycles, dehumidifies poorly and loses the advantage of its SEER.
14 · True or false
Six statements you often hear. Test yourself.
Answer, then read the explanation. The score updates with every answer.
Score 0 / 6Answer all six statements.
A higher SEER means a bigger LogisVert rebate.
Choose True or False to see the explanation.
In Canada, a new split heat pump can still be rated 13 SEER2.
Choose True or False to see the explanation.
For a wall unit, SEER and SEER2 are often close.
Choose True or False to see the explanation.
Good maintenance increases my heat pump’s SEER rating.
Choose True or False to see the explanation.
For the same unit, the Canadian HSPF2 is lower than the American one.
Choose True or False to see the explanation.
At −15 °C, a cold-climate heat pump uses at least 40% less than an electric baseboard.
Choose True or False to see the explanation.
15 · Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most often about SEER.
Type a word to filter the 15 questions.
15 questions
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), called TRES in French, measures how efficiently a heat pump or air conditioner cools over a whole season: the heat removed from the home divided by the electricity used. The higher it is, the less the unit uses for the same comfort.
SEER2 measures the same thing with the M1 test procedure, mandatory since January 1, 2023. The test uses more realistic duct pressure, so the numbers cannot be compared directly. The old 15 SEER minimum is equivalent to 14.3 SEER2.
For a single-phase split heat pump under 65,000 BTU/h manufactured since January 1, 2025: 14.3 SEER2 and 6.0 HSPF2 (Region V). For a split central air conditioner: 13.4 SEER2. Wall units are covered by these rules.
At least 15.2 SEER2 for a split heat pump, with an EER2 of at least 11.0 and an HSPF2 of at least 7.8. The cold-climate path requires 15.2 SEER2, an HSPF2 of 8.5 for a wall unit and a COP of at least 1.75 at −15 °C.
No. The heat pump must be ENERGY STAR certified, which means at least 15.2 SEER2, but the amount is calculated on heating capacity at −8 °C: $120 per 1,000 BTU/h for cold climate, $50 for ENERGY STAR standard.
HSPF2 (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor), CPSC in French, measures heating efficiency over a whole winter. American spec sheets give it for Region IV; Canada requires it for Region V, which is colder and where the same unit gets a lower number.
The coefficient of performance: the heat delivered divided by the electricity used, measured at −15 °C (5 °F). A COP of 2.20 gives 2.2 kWh of heat for 1 kWh paid; an electric baseboard gives 1 for 1.
Cooling efficiency at a single operating point, at 35 °C outside. It tells you about heat waves, while SEER2 averages the whole summer.
There is no exact conversion. AHRI offers approximate factors: about 1.00 for a ductless wall unit and 0.95 for a central or ducted system. The real number is the certified SEER2, tied to the model’s AHRI number.
In the ENERGY STAR database as of September 24, 2026, the highest rating in the mini split and multizone category is 35.1 SEER2. The median for certified single-zone 18,000 BTU/h wall units is 22.
It lowers the summer bill, but the gap stays modest: about $6 per summer between 20 and 25 SEER2 for an 18,000 BTU/h wall unit running 480 hours at full power, at the first tier of Rate D. In winter, HSPF2 and COP weigh several times more. Choose a cold-climate unit first, then use SEER2 as the tiebreaker.
A ductless wall-mounted heat pump: one outdoor unit and one or more indoor units mounted on the wall or ceiling, connected by refrigerant lines and an electrical cable. It heats and cools room by room.
Choose the right size, neither too small nor too large, clean the indoor filters, have the unit checked regularly and hire a licensed contractor for the installation: sealed piping and the correct refrigerant charge keep the unit close to its rating.
With the AHRI certificate number of the outdoor and indoor unit combination, in the ENERGY STAR database or the AHRI directory. On airgreen.ca, our product pages show the AHRI number.
In Quebec, require ENERGY STAR cold climate first: at least 15.2 SEER2 and a COP of 1.75 at −15 °C. Our 18,000 BTU/h wall units on this page range from 20.0 to 25.0 SEER2. Our guide “What is a good SEER rating for a heat pump?” details the number to aim for.
AirGreen Climatisation & Chauffage
We read the spec sheets for you, before you buy.
An advisor assesses your home on site and suggests models with their certified SEER2, their COP at −15 °C and their indicative LogisVert amount. The estimate is free, and the quote follows within 24 hours.
RBQ 5645-9605-01Licences 15.8 Ventilation, 15.10 Refrigeration and 16 Electricity.
AHRI number on our product pagesWith the model’s indicative LogisVert amount.
Free on-site estimateMontreal, Laval, Longueuil, North Shore and South Shore.
Quote within 24 hoursThe final price comes from our office, in writing.
Read also
What is a good SEER rating for a heat pump?The number to aim for, wall-mounted or central.LogisVert rebateThe simulator and the 2026 conditions.Calculate the right sizeTo keep the efficiency of the rating.Are wall units noisy?The decibels, straight up.Wall-mounted or central?Choosing based on the home.All rebatesFederal, provincial and municipal.
Sources checked on September 24, 2026.
- Hydro-Québec, LogisVert program, Participation guide, residential sector, version 1.10 of September 15, 2026, and residential LogisVert page (accessed September 24, 2026).
- Hydro-Québec, Electricity rates in effect April 1, 2026, Rate D; Breakdown of electricity use in an electrically heated household.
- Natural Resources Canada, Energy Efficiency Regulations, split central heat pumps (page modified October 28, 2025); Amendment 17, SOR/2022-265.
- Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY, Air-Source Heat Pump Sizing and Selection Guide, version 1.0 of December 21, 2020 (terms TRES and CPSC).
- U.S. Department of Energy, 10 CFR 430, Subpart B, Appendix M1; rules 82 FR 1426 (January 5, 2017) and 82 FR 1786 (January 6, 2017); FAQ of October 5, 2022.
- EPA ENERGY STAR, Heat Pump Equipment, specification version 6.2 revised February 2, 2026.
- ENERGY STAR, certified heat pump database (data.energystar.gov), accessed September 24, 2026: AHRI 209424784, 213246053, 204825180, 9114294, 206913027, 8779045.
- AHRI, approximate SEER to SEER2 factors (published by RESNET, Addendum 71f, February 10, 2023).
The amounts shown are estimates; only the responsible organizations confirm the rebate granted. The energy calculations rely on your assumptions and do not replace an on-site assessment.