The article doesn’t go into it, but a key advantage they have is that heat pumps move heat, rather then trying to generate it. So they can move a lot more heat into your house than would be generated by running the electricity they use through a resistor. This makes them effectively more than 100% efficient (the exact amount depends on temperature) as compared with burning a fuel or resistive heat.
Increasingly, they also tend to have variable-speed compressors, which offer further efficiency benefits. I think the distinction between A/C and heat pump is useful for consumers.
Just got a Bosch Inverter (variable speed) last summer, and the remainder of the summer and through the winter, my electric usage is down by about 30% over last year’s even though I lowered the thermostat temp in summer and increased it in winter.
Old system was 20 years old. I was hoping to see some ROI after this surprise expense, and it has exceeded expectation so far.
You could add end-of-life solar panels and an automatic transfer switch and save a lot more.
If only! I have a condo in an HOA neighborhood, so no outdoor goodies.
Get on the board and make everyone do it.