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In Canada, a new split heat pump must reach at least 14.3 SEER2. LogisVert requires ENERGY STAR, so 15.2 SEER2 or more. In Montreal, we recommend 20 SEER2 or more for a wall unit and 16 or more for a central system, in a cold-climate model. After that, winter decides: heat output and COP at -15 °C.
for a split heat pump manufactured since January 1, 2023, wall or central.
minimum, since November 26, 2025. Without ENERGY STAR: $0 rebate.
in cold climate. Three ENERGY STAR certified wall units out of four already reach it.
SEER2 settles summer; heat output and COP at -15 °C settle the bill. Here is what we aim for in a local home, based on the certified models in our catalogue.
Share of the 17,699 ENERGY STAR certified wall and multi-split combinations that reach each rating. Half are above 21 SEER2; the certified record is 35.1.
The yellow bar: our benchmark for a wall unit
ENERGY STAR list of mini and multi-split heat pumps, checked on September 24, 2026. Our examples: Gree 24,000 at 21.5, Sharp ZHU 18,000 at 25.0, Gree 9,000 at 27.0.
AirGreen benchmarks, not standards. The official thresholds are in the SEER2 scale, further down.
Same method as Hydro-Québec’s air conditioning calculator: capacity ÷ efficiency × hours × rate. The hours are your assumption; change them.
saved per summer with unit B (24.0 SEER2), for 12,000 BTU/h, 8 h a day for 60 days.
Indicative estimate, calculated like Hydro-Québec’s air conditioning calculator. The hours are your assumption.
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio: the heat the heat pump removes from your home over the whole summer, divided by the electricity it uses. The higher it is, the less cooling costs. Since January 1, 2023, the official rating is SEER2, measured with a tougher test.
At 24.0 SEER2, each kWh paid removes 7.0 kWh of heat from the home. Outdoors, the outdoor unit releases both: 8.0 kWh.
SEER2 = heat removed over the summer (BTU) ÷ electricity used (Wh). Since 1 Wh equals 3.412 BTU: 24.0 SEER2 ÷ 3.412 = 7.0 kWh of heat removed per kWh paid.
Heat removed over the cooling season, divided by the electricity used.
Efficiency at the height of summer, at a single test point.
Heat delivered over the heating season, divided by electricity. Canada calculates it for Region V, which is colder.
Heat delivered per kWh used when it is -15 °C. An electric baseboard gives 1.
The 2023 test is tougher, especially for ducted systems. An old 16 SEER is not a 16 SEER2.
SEER × 0.95, AHRI’s approximate factor for this type of system.
AHRI factors as published by NRCan (2023). An exact conversion is impossible: the only rating that counts is the one on the AHRI certificate.
To dig deeper into the rating itself: What is SEER?
The 16 to 18 “good SEER” often quoted in 2023 is now the ENERGY STAR floor. Tap a marker.
The SEER2 threshold for every ENERGY STAR heat pump, cold climate included. Hydro-Québec has required ENERGY STAR for LogisVert since November 26, 2025.
ENERGY STAR certified values (AHRI numbers from AirGreen product pages). Minimums: Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations.
Your local climate changes what a “good SEER” means. Here, cooling weighs little on the bill; heating weighs a lot.
NRCan, Energy Fact Book 2025-2026, 2022 data, all energy sources.
Hydro-Québec, household electricity use by category.
more energy for heating than for cooling in Canada (879 PJ versus 34 PJ in 2022). That is why a point of HSPF2 or COP at -15 °C weighs more than a point of SEER2.
“Hot and humid region = higher SEER”: that advice in the 2023 version came from the United States. In Montreal, SEER2 settles summer; for winter, look at HSPF2, heat delivered and COP at -15 °C.
ENERGY STAR certified values for the selected model, at the official test points.
BTU/h delivered at -15 °C, with a COP of 2.20. That is 90% of the capacity at 8.3 °C.
Sharp ZHU 18,000 · AHRI 209424784 · heat delivered in BTU/h
Size, brand and model, age: the three factors from the 2023 version of this guide, checked against certified data. Only one held up as is.
The 2023 version of this guide said a bigger heat pump usually has a higher SEER. The certifications say the opposite: in the GREE EXTRÊME series, SEER2 goes from 27.0 at 9,000 BTU/h to 21.5 at 24,000 BTU/h.
On the other hand, heat delivered at -15 °C goes up with size, and so does the rebate. So choose the size for each room’s needs, not for the rating: NRCan points out that proper sizing is key to savings and comfort.
Calculate the right wall heat pump size
Certified SEER2. It drops as size goes up.
GREE EXTRÊME 9,000, 12,000, 18,000 and 24,000: ENERGY STAR cold climate certifications (AHRI 204325176, 9944776, 9114294, 9123256).
A real certified spec sheet. Tap a row: you see what it measures, the threshold to aim for and what it is on this unit.
Photo: Sharp product lineAverage efficiency over the whole cooling season, under the M1 test in force since 2023.
By default, two 18,000 BTU/h wall units: the Gree wins at -15 °C, the Sharp wins summer and the rebate.
Horizontal axis: the certified SEER2. Vertical axis: your choice. Tap a dot to see the unit.
A higher SEER rating brings two long-term benefits, quantified below, and one trade-off to face squarely.
A higher SEER2 uses less power for the same cooling. Example: 12,000 BTU/h, 8 h a day for 60 days, from 15.2 to 24.0 SEER2: 379 kWh versus 240 kWh, about $10 apart at 7.065¢ per kWh.
Redo the math with your hours
High-efficiency heat pumps have a variable-speed compressor: they adjust their output instead of stopping and starting. The temperature stays steadier, room by room.
A high SEER usually costs more to buy. Compare the price gap with the savings over several summers, then with the LogisVert amount: it depends on heat delivered at -8 °C, not on SEER2.
What LogisVert really pays forThe four criteria from the 2023 version, still valid, with what to check today.
Check each one as you get the answer.
Every answer is backed by a standard or a certified unit.
A bigger heat pump has a better SEER.
Answer to see the explanation.
A 16 SEER from before 2023 and a 16 SEER2 today are the same.
Answer to see the explanation.
LogisVert pays more for a higher SEER.
Answer to see the explanation.
At -15 °C, a cold-climate wall unit delivers at least 1.75 kWh of heat per kWh used.
Answer to see the explanation.
A 13 SEER2 split heat pump can still be sold in Canada.
Answer to see the explanation.
A 9,000 BTU/h wall unit installed on its own qualifies for LogisVert.
Answer to see the explanation.
Start with ENERGY STAR cold climate: at least 15.2 SEER2, and that status unlocks LogisVert at $120 per 1,000 BTU/h. Our benchmarks: 20 SEER2 or more for a wall unit, 16 or more for a central system. Beyond that, compare capacity and COP at -15 °C.
A good SEER for a heat pump starts with an ENERGY STAR cold-climate unit. A high SEER lowers the summer bill and keeps comfort steadier, but costs more to buy. Then compare heat output and COP at -15 °C, and have your home assessed by a qualified HVAC contractor.
Feel free to contact us with any question, we will be happy to help!
Hydro-Québec never solicits by phone or door to door for LogisVert. Only Hydro-Québec approves and pays the rebate.
Sources. Sources checked on September 24, 2026. Natural Resources Canada: Energy Efficiency Regulations, pages “Split-system central heat pumps” and “Split-system central air conditioners” (modified October 28, 2025); “Guidance on M1 Testing and Performance” (2023, AHRI conversion factors); ENERGY STAR Canada, Air-source heat pumps (October 7, 2025). EPA ENERGY STAR: heat pump criteria (Version 6.2, revised February 2026) and certified product list, read on September 24, 2026 for the AHRI numbers cited. Hydro-Québec: LogisVert program, residential participation guide v1.10 (September 15, 2026); electricity rates as of April 1, 2026; household electricity use by category; air conditioning calculator. Amounts shown are estimates; only the responsible organizations confirm the assistance granted. Electricity costs depend on your actual use. Market: ENERGY STAR list of mini and multi-split heat pumps (17,699 combinations), checked on September 24, 2026. NRCan: Energy Fact Book 2025-2026, section 4 (residential energy use by end use, 2022). AirGreen: Contact us page (estimate and quote).
1 comment
La dimension de notre maison est de 25′×50′ 3 niveaux (S-S, RC, 1er étage). Isolation (1985)
Fournaise eau chaude Wiessman VitoGas 50 alimentant 15 radiateurs de fonte, pompe circulatrice;
chauffe-eau au gaz RHEEM 40 gallons (2021)
7 unités murales (SS:2 ; RC: 1 ; 1er étage: 4)
2 thermopompes Inverter de 36 000BTU chacunes: LG (2014) + HAXXAIR (2022) – par Hi-Sense
pas de thermostat unique
Coût énergie en 2024: 2455$ (Énergir) + 1035$ (Hydro Westmount- entrée 200 Amps)
Pouvons-nous améliorer et réduire nos coûts énergétiques? 302 avenue Grosvenor, Westmount H3Z2L9