From Testing to Reality: Bosch Home Comfort Launches IDS Ultra Cold Climate Heat Pump
WATERTOWN, MASS. – Bosch Home Comfort, a leading source of high-quality heating, cooling and hot water systems, is unlocking a new product category with the market launch of its latest innovation, the IDS Ultra Cold Climate Heat Pump. Originally unveiled at the AHR Expo and Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2024, the IDS Ultra Cold Climate Heat Pump is advancing HVAC industry solutions with a cold climate heat pump designed for all seasons—even when the temperature falls below zero.
“The IDS Ultra has been carefully designed and rigorously tested to withstand low temperatures while maintaining strong performance,” said Mohamad Nasab, Senior Product Manager. “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. We expect IDS Ultra to fulfill a major need for homeowners living in colder regions who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining the same level of comfort, especially during those harsh winter months.“
One of just a handful of companies to undergo extensive testing, participate and receive certification from the Department of Energy’s Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge—and the first solution from the challenge to enter the market. In order to meet the DOE Challenge’s criteria, the heat pump solutions had to meet certain heating performance baselines.
Bosch’s IDS Ultra can support climates reaching temperatures as low as -13° F, with a 100% heating capacity down to 5° F. It is also compliant with the new low global warming potential (GWP) A2L refrigerant requirements. The IDS Ultra is the first cold climate heat pump to market that meets these criteria from the DOE Challenge.
Historically, the colder it is outside, the harder it is for heat pumps to extract heat from the air. However, the IDS Ultra is outfitted with an Enhanced Vapor Injection (EVI) compressor that borrows extra heat from the hot side of the refrigerant cycle, redirecting it to warm the home, boosting performance and overall comfort on the coldest days. Additionally, the IDS Ultra features demand response capability, allowing utilities (with the homeowner’s permission) to manage electrical load intelligently prior to peak usage time to avoid outages.
The IDS Ultra qualifies for federal tax credits and state rebates as an Energy Star V6.1 Cold Climate certified product. Homeowners can visit energystar.gov to learn more about the qualifying criteria and how to apply. The IDS Ultra also includes a Residential Limited Warranty and is widely compatible with existing air-to-air systems.
IDS Ultra heat pumps are now available for purchase by HVAC industry professionals in time for the 2024 winter season. For more information on IDS Ultra and Bosch Home Comfort solutions, visit bosch-homecomfort.us/ultra.