What is the COP (Coefficient of Performance) of electric resistance heat?

The Coefficient of Performance (COP) for electric resistance heating is defined as the ratio of useful heating provided to the amount of electrical energy consumed. In the case of electric resistance heat, the system converts electrical energy directly into thermal energy at an efficiency of 100%. For every unit of electrical energy consumed, one unit of heat is generated. Therefore, the COP for electric resistance heat is 1:1.

This means that for every unit of energy input, the system provides an equal amount of heating output. It is the baseline measurement against which other heating systems, such as heat pumps, are compared. Systems with COPs greater than 1 indicate higher efficiency because they deliver more heating energy than the electrical energy consumed. Hence, the COP of electric resistance heat being 1:1 is accurate and reflects the fundamental operation of resistance heating.