HEATING & COOLING

Heat Pump Savings Calculator

Compare heat-pump operating costs with other heating systems.

Transparent formula User-controlled electricity rate Calculations stay in your browser
Average homes range from 40 to 100 MMBtu annually depending on climate and insulation.
Older furnaces: ~80%. High efficiency: 90-95%. Electric baseboard: 100%.
Typical cold-climate seasonal COP is 2.5 to 3.0.

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Enter your inputs and click calculate to see the cost and energy breakdown.

Methodology

This calculator determines the raw energy cost to deliver a specific amount of heat to your home. We convert the required heat (MMBtu) into the necessary amount of your current fuel based on your system's efficiency.

For the heat pump, we convert the required MMBtu into kilowatt-hours of thermal heat, then divide by the heat pump's Coefficient of Performance (COP) to find the electrical energy required.

CALCULATOR QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers about wattage, runtime, electricity rates, estimated costs, and the limitations of this calculator.

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WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE

  • Input and unit guidance
  • Formula and worked-example explanations
  • Reasons actual costs may differ
What is an MMBtu?
An MMBtu stands for one million British Thermal Units. It's a standard measurement of heat energy used to compare different fuel types on an equal footing. An average home might require 40 to 100 MMBtu of heat over a winter season.
What is COP?
COP stands for Coefficient of Performance. It's the ratio of heat output to electrical energy input. A COP of 3 means the heat pump produces 3 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity it consumes. Traditional electric baseboards have a COP of exactly 1.
Why might my heat pump savings be lower in reality?
Heat pumps lose efficiency in extreme cold. If the temperature drops too low, many systems rely on backup "electric resistance" heating strips, which have a much lower COP (1.0). This calculator assumes a constant seasonal average COP, but actual savings depend heavily on your local climate.
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