Bosch is now the first manufacturer to bring a cold-climate heat pump to market as part of the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge.

The new Bosch IDS Ultra Cold Climate Heat Pump is designed to keep homes warm even in frigid temperatures, which makes it a solid option for those who are ready to move away from fossil fuel heat sources.

Cold-climate heat pumps are much more energy-efficient compared to traditional oil or propane heating systems, and they also reduce homeowners’ carbon emissions and lower energy bills. Plus, they work year-round for both heating and cooling.

“The IDS Ultra has been rigorously tested to withstand low temperatures while maintaining strong performance,” said Mohamad Nasab, senior product manager at Bosch. “With this latest innovation, Bosch is proud to be the first to market with an extreme heat system, as well as play a role in making energy-efficient home heating and cooling more accessible across almost all climate zones in the United States.”

The DOE’s Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge was launched in 2021 to improve the performance of traditional heat pumps in extremely cold temperatures. Bosch worked alongside Oak Ridge and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, as well as manufacturers like Carrier, Daikin, Lennox, and others, to develop and test heat pumps that work efficiently in cold weather. Bosch is the first to launch a product from this challenge.

The IDS Ultra is capable of maintaining 100% heating capacity down to 5F, and it can operate in temperatures as low as -13F (-25C). This performance is possible thanks to Bosch’s Enhanced Vapor Injection (EVI) compressor, which borrows heat from the hot side of the refrigerant cycle to keep homes cozy, even during the coldest days. The unit is also compliant with new low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant requirements and features demand response capability, allowing utilities to help manage energy load during peak demand.

The IDS Ultra qualifies for federal tax credits and rebates up to $2,000 as an Energy Star V6.1 Cold Climate-certified product. The system is now available for HVAC professionals to purchase ahead of the 2024 winter season.

Electrek’s Take

“You’ve been vice president for three and a half years, what the hell have you been doing during all that time?” – J.D. Vance, indirectly addressing Kamala Harris

Among countless other things that work to reduce emissions, the Biden-Harris administration has been implementing initiatives like this DOE program, J.D. Vance.

The Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge went from innovative concept to commercial product in just a couple years. That’s something to celebrate, and it benefits everyone.

Read more: Seriously good cold-climate heat pumps are headed to the US market

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