The article doesn’t go into it, but a key advantage they have is that heat pumps move heat, rather then trying to generate it. So they can move a lot more heat into your house than would be generated by running the electricity they use through a resistor. This makes them effectively more than 100% efficient (the exact amount depends on temperature) as compared with burning a fuel or resistive heat.
Increasingly, they also tend to have variable-speed compressors, which offer further efficiency benefits. I think the distinction between A/C and heat pump is useful for consumers.
Just got a Bosch Inverter (variable speed) last summer, and the remainder of the summer and through the winter, my electric usage is down by about 30% over last year’s even though I lowered the thermostat temp in summer and increased it in winter.
Old system was 20 years old. I’m was going to see some ROI after this surprise expense, and it has exceeded expectation so far.
You could add end-of-life solar panels and an automatic transfer switch and save a lot more.
If only! I have a condo in an HOA neighborhood, so no outdoor goodies.
Get on the board and make everyone do it.