Malachi Rein,
Director, Building Energy Exchange St. Louis
Do you know anyone heating and cooling their home with a heat pump? The science behind this all-in-one technology dates back to the 1850s, but it can still feel new to many people choosing big-ticket replacement or new installation equipment for their house. In HVAC terms, “efficiency” is the heat you keep inside from the energy you use, not price – we’ll touch on that later. Put simply, a heat pump doesn’t use energy to make heat, but to move it, which means it is 2 to 4 times more efficient on average than traditional electric furnaces. High-efficiency gas furnaces aren’t far behind traditional electric furnaces but must be vented, so inherently lose some heat to the outside. Relying on a heat pump for your everyday heating slashes the amount of fuel burned in your home. This reduces household pollution while significantly lowering the active risks of fuel combustion, indoor air quality issues, and carbon monoxide.
We all hesitate to make a change when we aren’t familiar with something, but you already use this technology — only in one direction. Imagine if your air conditioner could run both ways – that’s a heat pump. This also means that installers and parts are already available. You would be taking advantage of an option that is sweeping the country. According to RMI, heat pumps have outsold gas furnaces consistently since 2021 and in 2025 made up almost half of cooling equipment sales.
You may have heard the tale that they don’t work when it’s bitterly cold. Or you may have concerns about the costs of gas vs. electricity. The truth is that modern heat pumps reliably deliver heating at sub-zero temperatures and that myth stems from decades old technologies. Operational costs (utility costs) will be significantly lower than a traditional electric furnace and are competitive with gas furnaces in our region. Make sure you do the math for your situation to see the real numbers.
If costs are your main concern, then I have great news – you can have your cake and eat it too. Keep your gas furnace and replace your air conditioner with a heat pump. This “dual fuel” setup gives you the flexibility to take advantage of real time fuel prices or get comfortable with the technology without giving anything up. As always, check for rebates and tax incentives and remember that air-sealed and insulated buildings reduce the size and cost of your heating and cooling equipment.