Oxford study proves heat pumps triumph over fossil fuels in the cold::Published Monday in the scientific journal Joule, the research found that heat pumps are two to three times more efficient than their oil and gas counterparts, specifically in temperatures ranging from 10 C to -20 C.
Yes, and a gas generator or a remarkably small battery and inverter/dc-dc transformer overcomes the obstacle of powering the electronics - no need for a powerwall. Or you can have a woodstove - not fossil fuels, but def burning carbon for heat.
Most gas furnaces use forced air blowers to distribute the heat. You’re not running that on a small battery.
I was thinking about the water heater and radiators, totally forgot forced air blowers - you’re right.
Here in Canada it’s common to use geothermal heat pumps with floor heating. Even in a power outage the floor will retain their heat for much longer than conventional heating system can.
And if worst comes to worst, it’s not hard to run them off a generator, although I’ve never known anyone who has ever needed to.
My gas fireplace works great in a power outage, as do my stove and grill. Just because a subset of gas-powered appliances don’t work doesn’t mean none of them work.