JPBarbless,

In the Seattle area, it may be a tossup between gas furnace and electric heat pump. If you have SCL, your electric rates are quite a bit less than PSE I think. If that's the case, the heat pump will be more economical.

I don't have natural gas as an option, so an electric heat pump, even at PSE rates, is less than a propane fired furnace. I just built a new house and installed several heating options. I have electric heated water radiant heat in my basement floor. I have it set at 60, and it was 61 today. I have the heat pump furnace thermostat set at 55. It was 62 when I left the house yesterday after burning a small fire in my fireplace that puts out a lot of heat. It was 60 when I got there today, and without touching the thermostat, it was up to 63 when I left; must have been working pretty hard. Then, just for the luxury of it, I installed electric radiant heat under the tile floor in the master bath, but I'll keep that turned off until I get fully moved in.

Sg