Late last year, a steamy hockey rivalry swept the nation. Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander: two contenders with a decade of high-stakes competition and enough tension to have fans demanding season 2.
But off the ice rink, another rivalry has been facing off in our homes, schools, businesses, and yes, cottages. Traditional air conditioners were the familiar choice to cool our buildings for decades, but another appliance is rising as a clear champion: heat pumps. There's a reason that modern, highly efficient heat pumps are outselling furnaces and recommended by 9 in 10 homeowners – they outperform the competition.
Game Changers:
Heat pumps can save you money
Heat pumps are on a winning streak. Their power play? They are the ultimate two-in-one appliance that can replace your air conditioner and gas furnace, and they’re highly efficient, providing year-round comfort by moving heat from the inside to the outside instead of generating it. That high efficiency means homeowners can save money on their energy bills over time, with estimated savings between $300–$650 per year.
While the initial cost of both an air conditioner and a heat pump depends on factors like unit size, features, and installation costs tailored to the specific home, incentives and rebates are making heat pump upgrades more affordable than ever. Stacking these incentives can significantly lower upfront costs and help make heat pumps comparable to or even less expensive than replacing a high-efficiency A/C.
Unrivaled:
Heat pumps do more with less
Because heat pumps move heat outside the home in the summer, and then reverse the process in the winter, they stack energy efficiency in homes. Heat pumps are three to five times more efficient than gas furnaces, and they can reduce household emissions from heating by up to 75%. That means heat pumps deliver the highest level of efficiency, which is why heat pump sales are soaring worldwide, even in the cold climates of, say, a Russian city or rural Canada. In these conditions, heat pumps can actually be less costly to operate as compared to systems that use other heating fuel sources. No away-game weakness here!
State and city governments are putting their money on heat pumps, too. In cities like Aspen, CO, and Vancouver, BC, alongside thirteen California jurisdictions, building codes and local policies are encouraging heat pumps when old air conditioners need to be replaced. California’s new building code, which went into effect on January 1, 2026, also supports an electric-first approach across newly constructed buildings by encouraging heat pumps for space and water heating. These clean energy appliances are a future-proof play.
The Long Game:
Heat pumps do more with less
Homeowners are undeniably shifting toward heat pumps, and for good reason. All-electric technology is safe, healthy, future-proof, and more affordable with each passing year. It’s no wonder that heat pumps already make up 53% of cooling sales.
Heat pumps improve your indoor and outdoor air quality because they run on electricity instead of fossil fuels, making homes safer and healthier for families. And, heat pumps deliver year-round comfort with precise temperature controls. Your home environment will be more consistent as it won’t go through hot and cold cycles, and the process is often quieter with heat pumps.
So while air conditioners can hold the line on defense, heat pumps are the well-rounded players that take home the Stanley Cup.
The final tally
In the end, it was a formidable rivalry, but today’s heat pumps are skating circles around the competition. They deliver:
- Lower energy bills
- Ultra-high efficiency
- Heating and cooling in one system
- Precise home comfort
- Healthy indoor air
- Climate resilience
If you’d like to explore contractors or incentives in your area, try out our Contractor Finder and Incentive Finder.
