ENERGY COSTS · REVIEWED NOVEMBER 2, 2026

Understand a heat pump’s running costs before you compare.

Educational planning guidance. Not a remote diagnosis, emergency service or engineering assessment.

Separate heating from cooling.

The cooling scenario in SAVPWR estimates electricity changes for equal cooling output. It does not estimate winter heating, auxiliary resistance heat or switching from gas to electricity.

Use comparable ratings.

Do not directly divide SEER by SEER2 or HSPF by HSPF2. These rating methods differ. Confirm both equipment ratings and their test basis before using a simplified efficiency ratio.

Use your tariff, not a national number.

A state residential average provides context. Your bill may include different time periods, tiers, fixed charges and other conditions. A simple dollar-per-kWh assumption is useful for a scenario only when its limits are clear.

Ask for a local heating model.

Heating economics require local temperature conditions, the home’s load, system performance at low temperatures, backup heat behavior, rates and installation details. Missing those inputs means the result is still unverified.

Keep reading

AC running but not cooling? Start with a better next step. · Repair or replace? Ask for evidence before deciding. · Two HVAC quotes: are they actually the same job? · Why is one room always warmer? Start with the distribution.