Independent field research is helping demonstrate how a new generation of packaged terminal heat pumps (PTHPs) can perform in real buildings and cold-climate conditions.
In a recent article, “Do PTACs Have to Be This Bad?”, Steven Winter Associates (SWA) examines advances in PTHP technology, drawing on its work evaluating equipment and monitoring performance in actual buildings.
Ice Air figures importantly in that research.
SWA worked with Ice Air during the development of new PTHPs using inverter-driven compressors. According to SWA, these systems can operate at temperatures near 0°F without the need for electric resistance heat.
The firm also monitored several Ice Air PTHPs installed in a multifamily building in Coney Island, New York. SWA reports that the units provided the heat required during a New York City winter without using resistance heat. Their research also underscored the importance of properly matching equipment capacity to building loads, with oversized units showing lower efficiency.
A second finding involved airtightness—which is an especially important consideration for Passive House construction because every packaged terminal unit requires a penetration through the building envelope.
SWA reports that in early 2026 it completed blower-door testing on a new Passive House multifamily building in New York City containing 680 Ice Air PTHPs. The building passed the test.
“What makes their research especially valuable is that it is based on actual field performance,” said Tom Glass of Ice Air. “In related NYSERDA-supported research, Steven Winter Associates monitored 12 Ice Air RSXC units over two winters, with the units maintaining comfort at outdoor temperatures down to 15°F without backup heat. That’s the kind of real-world information architects, engineers and owners need when they’re evaluating cold-climate heat pump technology.”
SWA identifies opportunities for continued improvement in areas including equipment sizing, airtightness and the availability of real-world performance data.
That is why independent field research matters. As heat-pump technology becomes an increasingly important part of building electrification, architects, engineers, owners and developers need information based not simply on laboratory ratings or manufacturer claims, but on how equipment performs in actual buildings.
Ice Air is pleased to have its products and development work included in that continuing research. Let us know how we can help you too.