OhmIQ White Paper Published in IJEM: Optimizing Heat Pump Systems with Distributed Supplemental Heating 

A newly published white paper by Will Platou titled “Optimizing Heat Pump Systems with Distributed Supplemental Heating” appears in Volume 7, Issue 3 of the International Journal of Energy Management (IJEM). The publication has been distributed to over 17,000 members of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), a global network of professionals advancing energy efficiency and sustainability, with over 32,000 active certifications across 133 countries. This marks a major moment of industry recognition for OhmIQ and its work in sustainable thermal innovation. 

Why This Matters

Heat pumps are widely accepted as one of the most scalable and efficient pathways to decarbonizing building heating systems. However, the business case for full electrification, especially in commercial buildings and cold climates, has historically faced serious performance and cost challenges. 

According to the presentation that accompanies the white paper, these challenges include: 

• Sharp efficiency drops in low outdoor temperatures, making it harder for heat pumps to reach the necessary supply temperatures without significant oversizing. 

• High capital (CapEx) and operating costs (OpEx) when trying to meet peak demand with centralized or high-temp systems. 

• Strain on existing building infrastructure, including electrical capacity and retrofit limitations. 

The Case for Distributed Supplemental Heating 

The white paper shows that supplemental heating is essential, even for heat pumps designed for cold climates, and that how it’s applied makes all the difference. Among the three main approaches evaluated (defrost support, centralized backup, and decentralized systems), the modeling clearly supports distributed supplemental heating as the most effective. It delivered the highest efficiency (COP 3.57), 71.1% lower GHG emissions, and reduced energy use compared to centralized systems. Financially, it cut operating costs by 29% and CapEx by 20%, while meeting demand with 15% less installed capacity, making it the most scalable and cost-efficient solution.  

Looking Ahead: Smarter, More Adaptive Heating

The paper concludes that distributed supplementation is not just an efficiency booster, it’s a strategic enabler of smarter buildings. 

When paired with building management systems (BMS), the benefits increase even further: 

• Occupancy-based heating reduces unnecessary energy use. 

• Weather forecast-based optimization adapts performance in real time. 

• Granular controllability improves resilience and comfort in complex commercial spaces. 

A Strategic Moment for OhmIQ 

This publication comes at a critical moment for OhmIQ as it prepares for AEE World, where heat pump optimization and sustainable retrofits are expected to be leading themes. 

“It's our first white paper published on the very successful usage of an age-old technology that hasn’t been used in many industries. This is a validation of all the research and innovation that's gone into ThermIQ and the opportunity to introduce to a global audience is huge for our company.” 
— Neil Gannon, Chief Marketing Officer at OhmIQ 

This edition of IJEM also includes articles on data center energy demand, sustainable building certifications, and electrification in commercial buildings, placing OhmIQ’s contribution in the context of the sector’s most urgent challenges and innovations. 

📘 Read the full white paper in IJEM Volume 7, Issue 3 
Download the Journal via the Association of Energy Engineers 
 
Learn more about AEE at aeecenter.org 

Have any questions? Email us at contact@ohmiq.com