On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 13:15:30 -0400, someone wrote:


You HAVE heard of the "heat pump," havn't you?

Yes - and do *YOU* know what a heat pump does when it actually gets
COLD out instead of just cool??? It switches over to its electric
resistance backup! At the times of highest use, it becomes electric
resistance heat.

Heat pumps work fine in mild climates like VA or further south. In
New England they don't work out that well, too much time with the
backup on. (Some people have fuel burning backup - but then its not
"all electric" any more.) The cooling function of a heat pump (which
as we all know is just a reversible "air conditioner" is also not so
sought after in colder climates, where heating is the important load.
Thus, my observation is that heat pumps are relatively rare in the
North.

-v.