To put it in even simpler terms, if you buy a dollar's worth of gas and use it in a 65 percent AFUE furnace, only 65 cents worth of usable heat is going into your home. Because home heating takes up so much of your utility bill, it makes sense to have the most efficient equipment you can. So you need to study the cost of each fuel choice in your area to arrive at the best possible energy use plan for your home. That can be expensive, if that backup heating system is electric. Plus, electric heat pumps can't compete with the comfort or speed of natural gas heating.
Speed is important.
Turning down your thermostat at night can save up to 15 percent each year on your heating bill. A heat pump takes so long to warm your home, that many systems rely on the backup heating system to kick in. Or, you simply wait. Gas heat is your home's foundation for comfort. The quality of your home's heating system equates to the quality of comfort you provide for yourself and your family.