> Compared to resistive heat, sure, but a heat pump powered by fossil fuels isn't much better than a gas furnace. My point is that we need to stop burning fossil fuels for electricity so that heat pumps make sense.
Technically, heat pumps can absolutely achieve greater than 100% efficiency (considering their input electricity as a starting point).
It's also true though that there are also lot of caveats about their effectiveness based on temperature differential, maximum output compared to a furnace, efficiency with which the upstream electricity is generated, etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coefficient_of_performance
Technically, heat pumps can absolutely achieve greater than 100% efficiency (considering their input electricity as a starting point).
It's also true though that there are also lot of caveats about their effectiveness based on temperature differential, maximum output compared to a furnace, efficiency with which the upstream electricity is generated, etc.