Home / Comparisons / 12,000 BTU wall-mounted heat pumps
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE ORION XLTH and SHARP CHU R32, down to their last published point
Two 12,000 BTU R-32 wall units, ENERGY STAR cold climate certified and offered by AirGreen. Down to −15 °C, their certificates read at the same temperatures. Below that, one's last point sits at −26.1 °C, the other's at −30 °C. This page puts each figure at its temperature, with its source.
Last points certified in NEEP, in °C. Each marker carries its unit’s colour.
ORION XLTH 12,000 BTU
ASUH12KZAS / AOUH12KZAH1 · AHRI 214888802
Also sold under the name GENERAL AIRSTAGE ORION XLTH.
View the product page
What the electricity costs, in dollars, winter and summer
AirGreen estimate for the same 12,000 BTU/h zone in Montréal, at Hydro-Québec’s Rate D, taxes included. Both heat pumps are calculated in exactly the same way, with the same method as on all our comparison pages; only their certified efficiencies change. Electric baseboards serve as the reference point.
How this amount is calculated
- Heat to deliver over the winter. A zone whose heat loss reaches 12,000 BTU/h ( kW) at −23.1 °C, Montréal’s design temperature: kW × 24 h × 4,167 degree-days ÷ (18 − (−23.1)) = kWh of heat for round-the-clock heating, all winter. Heating degree-days (base 18 °C) and design temperature: Natural Resources Canada, HOT2000 climate data, Montréal Intl station. With fewer hours per day (“Heating” slider), the heat is reduced in the same proportion, for the heat pump as for the baseboards: this simplification does not account for recovery after a temperature setback.
- Electricity for heating. Heat pump: heat × 3.412 ÷ HSPF2 Region V, the AHRI certificate value published by NEEP. Region V is the coldest in the standard, and its calculation includes the electric backup expected when the heat pump is no longer enough. Electric baseboards: 1 kWh of electricity for 1 kWh of heat.
- Electricity for cooling. 12,000 BTU/h ÷ SEER2 × hours per day × 60 days ÷ 1,000: the method of Hydro-Québec’s air-conditioning calculator, with the SEER2 seasonal efficiency from the AHRI certificate. The number of hours is a scenario you can set above, from 1 to 24 h. At 24 h, the calculation assumes rated capacity all day long: that is a ceiling, since a variable-speed unit slows down once the room is at temperature.
- Price. Hydro-Québec Rate D in effect April 1, 2026: 7.065¢ per kWh up to 40 kWh a day, 11.142¢ beyond; the average price, 9.104¢, is the one Hydro-Québec’s calculators use. GST and QST included. Network access charges, the same with or without a heat pump, are not counted.
AirGreen method v1.1, November 9, 2026. An estimate is used to compare units under the same conditions. The actual bill depends on the house, the insulation, the settings and the use; this amount is not a promise.
At each temperature, what each manufacturer has published
Slide from mildest to coldest. On each thermometer, a dot is a point certified by NEEP, a diamond a point published by the manufacturer outside the certificate. Between two points, the page shows the two values on either side of the temperature, calculating nothing. Below the last point, it keeps that point, at its temperature, and quotes what the manufacturer writes for what follows.
ORION XLTHFUJITSU AIRSTAGE
CHUSHARP
From 8.3 to −15 °C, three points where the comparison is direct
NEEP uses the same three test temperatures for both units, with 21.1 °C indoors. Here the figures read side by side. In maximum capacity, the gap does not exceed 750 BTU/h.
Same temperature for both
Below −15 °C: every published figure, at its exact temperature
Below −15 °C, the two manufacturers no longer publish at the same temperatures: FUJITSU AIRSTAGE at −5 and −15 °F, SHARP at −4, −13, −17 and −22 °F. For each temperature, the table gives the published value or the two values on either side of it. Nothing is calculated between two points.
ORION XLTH: maximum heating capacity as a percentage of the 12,000 BTU/h rated capacity, per FUJITSU AIRSTAGE brochure FG8153D (revision 4/2025). Vertical line: 100%.
What each manufacturer writes, card by card
Sources: FUJITSU AIRSTAGE brochure FG8153D (revision 4/2025); SHARP “CHU/CU Series” catalogue (version MNSPLT-CHUCU 1.1.1) and SHARP submittal sheet AE-X12CHU_AY-XP12CHU-EN1 (January 2026). Each card repeats what the manufacturer writes, without ranking it.
ORION XLTH: heating published down to −26 °C, with “no lockout”; base pan heater.
CHU: heating published down to −30 °C (“High efficiency operation down to −22 °F”); the submittal sheet lists −30 °C as the heating thermal lock-out temperature.
ORION XLTH: down to −10 °C outdoors.
CHU: down to −10 °C outdoors.
ORION XLTH: automatic defrost function.
CHU: reverse-cycle defrost; “Hot Gas Pipe” against ice at the base of the outdoor unit.
ORION XLTH: Economy, Energy Saving, Powerful, Minimum Heat, Occupancy.
CHU: Full Power, Eco, 50 °F (10 °C) function, After Care, OD Silent.
ORION XLTH: backlit remote included; optional wired controllers.
CHU: remote control; the “Spot Air” zone is selected from it.
ORION XLTH: built-in Wi-Fi; AIRSTAGE Mobile app.
CHU: built-in Wi-Fi adapter (submittal sheet); SHARP AIR app.
ORION XLTH: automatic vertical direction, manual horizontal direction.
CHU: automatic louvers in four directions; “Coanda Airflow” up to 50 ft; “Spot Air” over six zones; “Multi Space”.
ORION XLTH: Occupancy mode.
CHU: motion sensor, specific to the CHU series.
ORION XLTH: automatic restart.
CHU: automatic restart; 24-hour timer and 1, 2, 3 or 5 h off timer.
ORION XLTH: washable filter; ProCore copper coils.
CHU: filter removable without disassembly; “After Care” dries the inside of the unit after cooling.
ORION XLTH: six named speeds, from Quiet to High, plus automatic mode.
CHU: five published speeds (airflow and sound), unnamed in the sheet.
The SHARP catalogue describes the SHARP AIR app for the whole range; the 12,000 BTU model's submittal sheet is what lists the built-in Wi-Fi adapter.
The sound of each, according to its manufacturer
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE publishes six named speeds for the ORION XLTH. SHARP publishes five speeds for the CHU, unnamed. Both give a sound pressure in dB(A).
How to read these figures. dB(A) measures a noise level as the ear perceives it: the lower the figure, the quieter the unit. Each dot is a fan speed published by the manufacturer, from the slowest to the fastest.
Why this is not a ranking. FUJITSU AIRSTAGE measures in its own anechoic chamber. SHARP publishes neither the distance nor the measurement conditions. A gap of a few dB(A) can come from the method as much as from the unit.
Indoor unit, in the room
Cooling, every published speed
Outdoor unit, outside
Cooling, published value
Measurements taken by each manufacturer using its own method: read them separately, not as a ranking.
Sources: FUJITSU AIRSTAGE brochure FG8153D and technical manual DR_AS233ES_02; SHARP submittal sheet AE-X12CHU_AY-XP12CHU-EN1. In heating, the published ranges run from 23 to 44 dB(A) for the ORION XLTH and from 22 to 44 dB(A) for the SHARP CHU.
On the wall, outside, in the piping
The SHARP CHU's wall unit is 72 mm wider and 36 mm taller than the ORION XLTH's; its outdoor unit weighs 9 kg less. The published piping lengths differ as well.
Is your wall wide enough?
Unit width only, to scale. The side clearances required by the installation manual are added to it; the installer confirms them on site.
Outdoor unit clearances
ORION XLTH
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE installation manual 9300793025-01, § 3.2.1. Top view, schematic.
CHU
The SHARP catalogue and submittal sheet give no clearance figure for the AE-X12CHU outdoor unit; they are found in the installation manual supplied with the unit, which the installer applies on site.
Indoor units to scale
Published widths: 980 mm for the ORION XLTH, 1,052 mm for the SHARP CHU. Manufacturer photos, brought to the same scale.
Piping length
Coloured band: pre-charged length. Dark line: published maximum. Added charge per the manufacturers: 0.22 oz/ft (FUJITSU AIRSTAGE, technical manual) and 0.16 oz/ft (SHARP, submittal sheet); the exact quantity is calculated at installation.
| Installation | ORION XLTH | CHU |
|---|---|---|
| Max. piping length | 82 ft25 m; minimum 10 ft | 66 ft20 m; minimum 10 ft |
| Pre-charged length | 49 ftAdded charge: 0.22 oz/ft (20 g/m) beyond 49 ft, per technical manual DR_AS233ES_02, section 7-1. | 25 ftAdded charge: 0.16 oz/ft (15 g/m) beyond 25 ft, per the SHARP submittal sheet. |
| Max. height difference | 66 ft20 m | 33 ft10 m |
| Liquid – gas diameters | 1/4 – 3/8 in | 1/4 – 3/8 in |
| Outdoor unit W × H × D, weight | 31 7/16 × 24 7/8 × 11 7/16 in, 86 lb799 × 632 × 290 mm, 39 kg | 30.7 × 21.3 × 10.6 in, 67 lb780 × 540 × 269 mm, 30 kg |
| Indoor unit, weight | 38 9/16 × 11 × 9 7/16 in, 28 lb980 × 280 × 240 mm, 12.5 kg | 41.4 × 12.4 × 9.8 in, 31 lb1,052 × 316 × 249 mm, 14 kg |
| Electrical protectionPer the manufacturer | 15 A breakerBrochure FG8153D. | 20 A maximum fuse (15 A breaker, MCA 15.0 A)SHARP submittal sheet. |
| Dehumidification | 1.9 L/h4.0 US pints/h per the brochure. | 0.9 L/h1.9 US pints/h per the submittal sheet, i.e. 0.9 L/h. |
| Published heating / cooling range | −26 to 24 °C / −10 to 50 °C | −30 to 24 °C / −10 to 46 °C |
What people ask about these two wall units
Why is the ORION XLTH's last point at −26.1 °C and the SHARP CHU's at −30 °C?
Each manufacturer has its unit certified at the bottom of its published heating range: −15 °F (−26.1 °C) for FUJITSU AIRSTAGE, −22 °F (−30 °C) for SHARP. One unit's 12,200 BTU/h and the other's 9,700 BTU/h are therefore not measured at the same temperature and cannot be compared directly.
Which one heats more at −15 °C?
According to NEEP, 16,600 BTU/h maximum for the ORION XLTH and 16,000 BTU/h for the SHARP CHU, with COPs of 2.16 and 2.10. It is the lowest temperature at which both are certified under the same conditions.
What does the ORION XLTH do below −26 °C?
The FUJITSU AIRSTAGE brochure announces heating down to −26 °C and “no lockout”. It gives no capacity below that temperature; this page does not put one forward.
And the SHARP CHU below −30 °C?
The SHARP submittal sheet lists −30 °C as the low limit of the heating range and on the “Heating Thermal Lock-out / Re-start Temperatures” line. SHARP publishes no capacity below that temperature.
Their EER2 values are identical, not their SEER2 values: why?
EER2 is measured at a single point, 35 °C outdoors: it is 16.0 for both. SEER2 covers a whole cooling season, with milder temperatures and part-load operation: it is 30.5 for the ORION XLTH and 25.0 for the SHARP CHU. Both values come from the AHRI certificates.
Which one is quieter?
In cooling, FUJITSU AIRSTAGE publishes 23 to 43 dB(A) for the ORION XLTH and SHARP 24 to 43 dB(A) for the CHU. FUJITSU AIRSTAGE measures in its anechoic chamber; SHARP does not publish its measurement conditions. These figures situate each unit; they do not allow a ranking.
Does the ORION XLTH go by another name?
Yes: it is also sold under the name GENERAL AIRSTAGE ORION XLTH. The SHARP CHU also exists with a black wall unit, the CHU-B, under a separate AHRI certificate (217512733) and with the same outdoor unit.
Are they eligible for grants?
Eligibility depends on the official list in force on the purchase date. This page promises no amount; the current list is checked at the time of the quote.
All AHRI and NEEP values
| Certified value | ORION XLTH | CHU |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling | ||
| Rated capacity at 35 °C | 12,000 BTU/h | 12,000 BTU/h |
| SEER2 | 30.5 | 25.0 |
| EER2 | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Heating, same conditions | ||
| HSPF2 Region IV / V | 12.7 / 10.1 | 11.0 / 9.0 |
| 8.3 °C: min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 3,500 / 16,000 / 23,600 | 3,100 / 16,000 / 22,850 |
| 8.3 °C: COP min. / rated / max. | 5.13 / 4.64 / 3.07 | 5.68 / 4.26 / 3.17 |
| −8.3 °C: min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 2,200 / 10,000 / 18,700 | 5,000 / 18,900 / 18,900 |
| −8.3 °C: COP min. / rated / max. | 3.39 / 3.45 / 2.44 | 2.93 / 2.22 / 2.22 |
| −15 °C: min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 1,950 / 16,600 / 16,600 | 3,850 / 16,000 / 16,000 |
| −15 °C: COP min. / rated / max. | 3.36 / 2.16 / 2.16 | 2.35 / 2.10 / 2.10 |
| Coldest point — different temperatures, not highlighted | ||
| Test temperature | −26.1 °C (−15 °F) | −30 °C (−22 °F) |
| Capacity min. / max. | 1,400 / 12,200 BTU/h | 1,350 / 9,700 BTU/h |
| COP at maximum capacity | 1.81 | 1.80 |
| Certifications and refrigerant | ||
| ENERGY STAR / cold climate (NEEP) | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| ENERGY STAR directory, listed markets | United States, CanadaID 3554345 | United States, CanadaID 4439337 |
| AHRI certificate · NEEP record | 214888802 · 392122 | 217512736 · 507383 |
| RefrigerantGWP per the IPCC (AR4); ASHRAE 34 class | R-32 · GWP 675 · A2L | R-32 · GWP 675 · A2L |
higher marks the higher value of the same measure, under the same conditions. It is not a recommendation. Capacities and COPs by point are not highlighted: the order changes depending on the point read. The two coldest points are not at the same temperature and cannot be compared with each other.
Both are on the AirGreen website.
To choose for your room, talk to our team: bring the room dimensions, the planned outdoor location and your current heating.
Where each figure comes from
Data verified November 10, 2026. Performance: AHRI certificates and the NEEP database. Dimensions, sound, piping and features: according to the manufacturer. When a source contradicts the AHRI certificate, the certificate prevails.
Trademarks. FUJITSU AIRSTAGE, ORION XLTH and SHARP are trademarks of their respective owners. Logos are used only to identify the products compared. AirGreen is a dealer for both brands; this page is not produced, sponsored or endorsed by the manufacturers.
Photos: AirGreen and manufacturers, for identification.
Does a figure look wrong to you? Write to us: any reported value is checked again.