The absorption heat pump (AHP) heating system is an efficient alternative to the conventional fuel-based heating systems, with energy saving rate reaching 20-50%. However, the coefficient of performance (COP) and heating capacity of normal AHP decreased obviously as the available driving source temperature dropped. Compression-assisted AHP (CAHP) could operate efficiently under lower driving sources, and an experimental prototype was constructed for performance investigation. At an evaporator inlet of -10 degrees C, as the generator inlet decreases from 130 degrees C to 115 degrees C, the COP changes from 1.442 to 1.271, while the heating capacity drops from 68.21 kW to 31.28 kW. At an increased evaporator inlet of -5 degrees C, as the generator inlet decreases from 130 degrees C to 110 degrees C, the COP changes from 1.511 to 1.103, while the heating capacity drops from 78.72 kW to 21.71 kW. Comparisons between CARP and normal AHP indicated that CAHP can extend the lower limit of generator inlet temperature from 125-130 degrees C to 110-115 degrees C. Besides, CARP can enhance the heating capacity by 96.4% even when AHP can operate normally at a generator inlet of 130 degrees C. Moreover, performance improvement contributed by CARP is greater under lower-temperature driving sources. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.