Led by its Texas Product Development and Research laboratory, Lennox developed a cold climate heat pump RTU that meets the stringent performance requirements of the challenge, as validated in an independent lab by the DOE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).  

"We approach advanced technology development with the intent to deliver practical, real-world solutions, and the successful validation of our rooftop cold climate heat pump brings us another step closer," said Lennox chief technology officer Prakash Bedapudi. "This unit reflects years of focused research and development to overcome cold-climate limitations, particularly around defrost, and deliver consistent comfort in the toughest conditions. Our team is proud to be the first to complete the challenge while meeting the evolving needs of our customers."  

Lennox is one of eight manufacturers participating in the Commercial Building HVAC Technology Challenge. Later this year, the Lennox prototype will be installed in a U.S. commercial building to validate the cold climate heat pump's performance, efficiency, and comfort through severe winter conditions.   

This achievement supports a commitment to sustainable innovation. It also follows Lennox Residential HVAC's successful participation in DOE's Residential HVAC Challenge, where the company was also the first to complete Phase 1 testing in 2022.