Heat pumps are typically much more efficient. Newer heat pumps like the Mitsubishi hyper heat models have COP's of between 4 and 5. The performance curves are outstanding with no drop in capacity at any temp we might encounter. With reasonably tight construction and a thoughtful design, there is no need for a boiler/furnace. The days of the central heating plant are numbered.

Simplified way of looking at it:


[Energy output from heat pump] = [Energy 'pumped' from outside] + [electric energy input]


When the outside temp gets low, [Energy Pumped] gets smaller. So to keep the same heat output, the [electric energy input] (the part you pay for) gets larger.

Heat pumps typically have a limit on the power input and their performance drops significantly once it gets below freezing. Check to make sure it will output enough heat say when it is 15 F outside. The manufacturer should have a performance chart that will tell you what the Max heat output vs. outside temperature is.


Edit: Heat pumps are cheaper to run, assuming you get enough heat out of them to keep the room at the temp you want. Their performance varies with the weather. Electric resistance heat doesn't vary. It puts out whatever you put into it (electric load).

Down to a certain low temp (40's I believe), a heat pump, the AC/heater type, is definitely more efficient, which is why they're more common in warmer zones than ours as primary heat. Below that temp a resistive heat system, same as baseboard, kicks in. So if you can only use electric, the heat pump is better.

Do you have 20 amp service? Either one I believe will be quite a load for 15 amp.

Does anyone have any advice or opinion about which is cheaper to operate an Electric Base Board Heater or an In Wall AC/ Heater? The examples below are only examples. This is for a small studio apartment say 500sq feet or less.
Thank you.

https://www.compactappliance.com/on/de ... JGU7NPNv9ACFUxLDQodoWELjw

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Fahrenheat ... lMDQodVPMLGQ&gclsrc=aw.ds