February 9, 2026
Hot takes, cold homes, spicy bills
Americans want heat pumps – but high electricity prices may get in the way
Gas loyalists clap back as AI server farms get blamed and install costs sting
TLDR: Heat pumps cut emissions, but high electricity prices and big upfront costs could raise heating bills, especially in cold regions. Comments split: some blame data centers and liquefied natural gas exports for rising energy prices, gas fans say “no thanks,” and others warn 2029 heat-pump water heater rules are coming.
Americans say they want heat pumps, but when the bill arrives, the vibe changes fast. A new study and rising power prices have people asking if “clean heat” means pricier heat. Commenters blamed AI-sized data centers and an aging grid for jacking up rates, while noting natural gas isn’t cheap either thanks to global exports. One summed it up with a weary mic drop: “Pick your poison.” Gas loyalists rolled in: “Do we though? I much prefer natural gas.” Meanwhile, a Texan flexed: his Austin setup hits a COP (an efficiency rating) near 5 — roughly five units of heat per unit of electricity — and says it only struggles below 35°F, which is rare there.
Others argue the quiet villain is the install cost, not the monthly bill; dreams of a pump-plus-solar combo crash into debt reality. Then came the plot twist: a commenter flagged federal rules pushing heat pump water heaters by 2029 (link). Regional drama lit up too — heat pumps thrive in the South and Pacific Northwest, but only 5% of Northeast homes use them, where winters bite hard, and just 14% of U.S. households have them overall. Fans point to fewer carbon emissions (IEA); skeptics say “not with these prices.” Meme energy: “AI is heating up my bill” vs “heat pumps are fine… in Florida.” Verdict: the tech is hot, the costs hotter.
Key Points
- •Heat pumps can cut emissions from building heating and are often cost-effective in new construction, but retrofits may raise bills where electricity is expensive.
- •Only 14% of U.S. households use heat pumps, with about 5% adoption in the colder Northeast.
- •A new study by the authors (including Dan Schrag) modeled how switching to heat pumps would change annual heating bills for average households in every U.S. county.
- •Heating fuels vary by region: natural gas/propane dominate in colder regions and California; electricity dominates in the South and Pacific Northwest.
- •Urban areas tend to use more natural gas, while rural areas use more heating oil and propane; in New England, about one-third of households still rely on oil.