In a prior article, I explored whether heat pumps provide homeowners with savings over gas furnaces. I discovered that in some states they do and others they don’t. However, the savings don’t seem to be significant. The universally higher price of electricity in comparison to gas offsets any advantage heat pumps may have in terms of better energy efficiency.
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However, this fact has not deterred climate activist groups, like the Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC), from lobbying city and state governments to stop future investment in residential gas infrastructure. They want no alternative to electricity for heating one’s home to remain in the market. They have embarked on a plan of wanton destruction of assets. It is part of a long-term campaign to destroy all fossil-fuel infrastructure. One that started with the retirement of coal power plants, and the obstruction of gas and oil pipelines, and now has its sights on eliminating residential gas distribution infrastructure.
Unfortunately, corporate leadership within gas utilities is lacking. Instead of making a forceful argument for heating with gas, they surrender the moral high ground by conceding that a transition away from fossil-fuels is inevitable, arguing only that the rate of change should be more gradual. Having defeatists in positions of corporate power explains only part of the problem. The other part is the willingness of the public to go along with a costly energy transition. This is where ignorance about energy comes into play. Only a relatively small segment of the population is energy literate, but all segments have an equal vote. Moreover, many of the most vocal are still swayed by climate eschatological arguments.
It should not surprise anyone that the same groups that are pushing heat pumps have also been promoting E.V.s. One can perform a similar analysis of savings with E.V.s. Electricity rates (see Figure 1) and gasoline prices (see Figure 2) vary on a state-by-state basis, and so do E.V. cost savings (see Figure 3) which is derived from both. A state-by-state listing is here.
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(Assumptions: E.V. = 0.28 kWh/mile and ICE = 30 mpg. EPA uses 33.7 kWh per gallon of gasoline equivalent, so the ICE energy use is 33.7 / 30 = 1.123 kWh/mile. Therefore, the energy saving is 1.123 – 0.280 = 0.843 kWh/mile in every state; the dollar saving varies by local electricity and gasoline prices. Electricity rates are EIA March 2026 residential rates; gasoline prices are AAA regular gasoline averages as of May 22, 2026.)
E.V. cost savings range from $0.15/mile in Washington state to $0.07/mile in Maine. Forgive me for not being impressed. Heat pump and E.V. cost savings are marginal. Obviously, there must be other compelling factors that attract people to purchase heat pumps and E.V.s, virtue-signaling being a big one.
The thing that I protest the most about with the push toward heat pumps and E.V.s is that the people pushing the agenda are either clueless, or must think that I am clueless. I don’t care if they are nervous about the future of the planet. They are not going to lie to me and not be called out on it.
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Figure 1 (above)
Figure 2 (above)
Figure 3 (above)
Image generated by ChatGPT.