Every factual sentence carries assertions checked against the recorded evidence: references must resolve, figures and quotations must be in the cited passage, arithmetic must reproduce, and an independent reviewer must approve the wording. Automated validation says whether the narration is ready for human editorial review; it does not establish truth.
Open a sentence to see its assertions, their status and the passages behind them. Sentences without a marker make no factual claim.
verified s03.a EnergySage wrote that heat pumps consistently save against propane, oil and electric resistance heating almost everywhere.
supported (approved): no direct support, 4 qualifying, 1 source statement.
info wording: Wording differs from the canonical claim; the reviewer confirms the passages entail it.
verified s04.a Abode Energy Management said home heating oil is always going to be more expensive than a heat pump.
supported (approved): no direct support, 4 qualifying, 1 source statement.
info wording: Wording differs from the canonical claim; the reviewer confirms the passages entail it.
verified s05.a The Boston Globe reported that with oil cheaper that year, even Massachusetts homeowners switching from oil could see energy costs rise by a few hundred dollars over the cold season.
supported (approved): no direct support, 3 contradicting, 4 qualifying, 1 source statement.
info wording: Wording differs from the canonical claim; the reviewer confirms the passages entail it.
verified s07.a For homes heating primarily with electricity, fuel oil or propane and with central or room AC, the study found 95% to 100% nationally would have positive bill savings, depending on heat pump efficiency.
qualified (qualify): 1 supporting (1 independent, strongest 0.65), 4 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: CEE 2018, ducted and ductless cold-climate heat pumps in the field: Measured cost savings averaged 33% against propane furnaces and 53% against electric resistance in Minnesota homes; oil was not tested, so the claim is supported for two of its three fuels. Cadmus 2016, ductless mini-split evaluation (MA and RI): Mini-splits were cheaper to run than electric resistance and propane at all observed …
verified s08.a For those homes the median bill saving was $300 to $650 per year, depending on efficiency.
qualified (qualify): 1 supporting (1 independent, strongest 0.65), 4 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: CEE 2018, ducted and ductless cold-climate heat pumps in the field: Measured cost savings averaged 33% against propane furnaces and 53% against electric resistance in Minnesota homes; oil was not tested, so the claim is supported for two of its three fuels. Cadmus 2016, ductless mini-split evaluation (MA and RI): Mini-splits were cheaper to run than electric resistance and propane at all observed …
verified s09.a Only 73% to 86% of the homes heating with those fuels but without central or room AC would have positive bill savings.
qualified (qualify): 1 supporting (1 independent, strongest 0.65), 4 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: CEE 2018, ducted and ductless cold-climate heat pumps in the field: Measured cost savings averaged 33% against propane furnaces and 53% against electric resistance in Minnesota homes; oil was not tested, so the claim is supported for two of its three fuels. Cadmus 2016, ductless mini-split evaluation (MA and RI): Mini-splits were cheaper to run than electric resistance and propane at all observed …
verified s09.b Most of the homes with increased energy bills are those in hotter climates but without existing central or window AC, where increased cooling costs outweigh heating cost savings.
qualified (qualify): 1 supporting (1 independent, strongest 0.6), 2 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: Deetjen 2021, private economics of US residential heat pumps: Counting capital cost, resistance and propane homes usually gain, but oil-heated homes usually take a private loss (65% are in cold climates), so oil is not among the best cases. Bernard 2024 (NBER), UK heat pumps and a time-of-use tariff: UK households that previously used electric heating saw electricity use fall after a heat pump, wh…
verified s10.a For homes heating with natural gas and with AC, median bill savings ranged from -$70 to $380 per year depending on heat pump performance level.
qualified (qualify): 1 supporting (1 independent, strongest 0.6), 2 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: Deetjen 2021, private economics of US residential heat pumps: Counting capital cost, resistance and propane homes usually gain, but oil-heated homes usually take a private loss (65% are in cold climates), so oil is not among the best cases. Bernard 2024 (NBER), UK heat pumps and a time-of-use tariff: UK households that previously used electric heating saw electricity use fall after a heat pump, wh…
verified s12.a For all-electric cold-climate heat pump systems, with an electric resistance heater assumed to meet the same load in the baseline, average cost savings were 53%.
qualified (qualify): no direct support, 4 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: CEE 2018, ducted and ductless cold-climate heat pumps in the field: Measured cost savings averaged 33% against propane furnaces and 53% against electric resistance in Minnesota homes; oil was not tested, so the claim is supported for two of its three fuels. "all" is stronger than the evidence (strongest support 0). Add the qualification: the evidence supports a narrower or weaker statement.
verified s13.a Compared against electrical resistance and propane heating, ductless mini-split heat pumps proved more cost-effective for all energy prices and all outdoor air temperatures.
qualified (qualify): no direct support, 4 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: Cadmus 2016, ductless mini-split evaluation (MA and RI): Mini-splits were cheaper to run than electric resistance and propane at all observed temperatures, but against oil they were cheaper only above a price-dependent break-even (about 32 F in 2016, 12 F in 2015). "all" is stronger than the evidence (strongest support 0). Add the qualification: the evidence supports a narrower or weaker statement…
verified s14.a For oil-fired systems, the relative energy price determined the temperature above which a mini-split became more cost-effective.
qualified (qualify): no direct support, 4 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: Cadmus 2016, ductless mini-split evaluation (MA and RI): Mini-splits were cheaper to run than electric resistance and propane at all observed temperatures, but against oil they were cheaper only above a price-dependent break-even (about 32 F in 2016, 12 F in 2015). Add the qualification: the evidence supports a narrower or weaker statement.
verified s15.a The evaluators recommended that oil-heated homeowners turn off the mini-split in very cold conditions, below 8F in 2015 and below 25F in 2016, when an oil-fired system would operate less expensively, depending on energy prices.
qualified (qualify): 1 supporting (1 independent, strongest 0.45), 2 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: Deetjen 2021, private economics of US residential heat pumps: Counting capital cost, resistance and propane homes usually gain, but oil-heated homes usually take a private loss (65% are in cold climates), so oil is not among the best cases. Bernard 2024 (NBER), UK heat pumps and a time-of-use tariff: UK households that previously used electric heating saw electricity use fall after a heat pump, wh…
verified s22.a In regions where the heating source is electricity or fuels other than natural gas, heating is generally more expensive and the net benefits of heat pumps are higher; climate and energy prices also play an important role.
qualified (qualify): 1 supporting (1 independent, strongest 0.55), 2 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: Deetjen 2021, private economics of US residential heat pumps: Counting capital cost, resistance and propane homes usually gain, but oil-heated homes usually take a private loss (65% are in cold climates), so oil is not among the best cases. Bernard 2024 (NBER), UK heat pumps and a time-of-use tariff: UK households that previously used electric heating saw electricity use fall after a heat pump, wh…
verified s23.a Among 273 electrification projects with cost savings data, some increased post-retrofit energy costs, by as much as $1,000 per year in some cases, while high reductions in annual energy cost were most likely in homes with high pre-retrofit bills, such as those heating with propane or fuel oil.
qualified (qualify): 1 supporting (1 independent, strongest 0.4), 2 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: Deetjen 2021, private economics of US residential heat pumps: Counting capital cost, resistance and propane homes usually gain, but oil-heated homes usually take a private loss (65% are in cold climates), so oil is not among the best cases. Bernard 2024 (NBER), UK heat pumps and a time-of-use tariff: UK households that previously used electric heating saw electricity use fall after a heat pump, wh…
verified s25.a Against propane and electric resistance heating, ductless mini-splits proved more cost-effective at all energy prices and outdoor temperatures, and the all-electric cold-climate systems saved 53% on average against an electric resistance baseline.
qualified (qualify): no direct support, 4 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: Cadmus 2016, ductless mini-split evaluation (MA and RI): Mini-splits were cheaper to run than electric resistance and propane at all observed temperatures, but against oil they were cheaper only above a price-dependent break-even (about 32 F in 2016, 12 F in 2015). CEE 2018, ducted and ductless cold-climate heat pumps in the field: Measured cost savings averaged 33% against propane furnaces and 53…
verified s26.a For oil-fired systems, the relative energy price determines the temperature above which a mini-split is more cost-effective.
qualified (qualify): no direct support, 4 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: Cadmus 2016, ductless mini-split evaluation (MA and RI): Mini-splits were cheaper to run than electric resistance and propane at all observed temperatures, but against oil they were cheaper only above a price-dependent break-even (about 32 F in 2016, 12 F in 2015). Add the qualification: the evidence supports a narrower or weaker statement.
verified s27.a Fewer oil, propane and electric homes had positive bill savings without AC, and climate and energy prices play an important role in heat pump net benefits.
qualified (qualify): 2 supporting (2 independent, strongest 0.65), 6 qualifying.
warning needs-qualification: CEE 2018, ducted and ductless cold-climate heat pumps in the field: Measured cost savings averaged 33% against propane furnaces and 53% against electric resistance in Minnesota homes; oil was not tested, so the claim is supported for two of its three fuels. Cadmus 2016, ductless mini-split evaluation (MA and RI): Mini-splits were cheaper to run than electric resistance and propane at all observed …
22 scenes, 4:17 at 150 words per minute including pauses. Narration is copied from the script; every chart value and on-screen citation is checked against a passage.
1. sc01 · 0:00 to 0:09 typography
If your house runs on propane, heating oil or electric baseboards, someone has probably told you a heat pump is the easy win.
Visual. Warm field; "Propane, oil, baseboards" settles in large type, each word lighting as it is spoken.
On screen. Propane, oil, baseboards
2. sc02 · 0:09 to 0:19 typography
But does a heat pump always beat each of them on running cost, or does one of them break the rule?
Visual. The question types on, centred; "always" turns amber as it is spoken.
On screen. Does a heat pump always beat each of them?
3. sc03 · 0:19 to 0:27 typography
The home-energy marketplace EnergySage puts it flatly: "Heat pumps consistently save against propane, oil, and electric resistance heating almost everywhere."
Visual. Quote card, text only; "almost everywhere" turns green as it is spoken.
On screen. "Heat pumps consistently save against propane, oil, and electric resistance heating almost everywhere."
Cite. EnergySage, heat pump savings page
4. sc04 · 0:27 to 0:38 typography
Abode Energy Management, in a video on heat pump economics in Massachusetts, says home heating oil is "always also going to be more expensive than a heat pump".
Visual. Quote card, text only, mirrored from the previous one; "always" turns green as it is spoken.
On screen. "always also going to be more expensive than a heat pump"
Cite. Abode Energy Management, YouTube
5. sc05 · 0:38 to 0:52 typography
Yet The Boston Globe reported that in a winter of cheaper oil, even Massachusetts homeowners switching from oil "could see their energy costs increase by a few hundred dollars over the cold season".
Visual. Quote card, text only; "increase by a few hundred dollars" turns red as it is spoken.
On screen. "could see their energy costs increase by a few hundred dollars over the cold season"
Cite. The Boston Globe
6. sc06 · 0:52 to 0:56 typography
So who is right? Start with the widest view.
Visual. "The widest view" in large type, the camera pulling back as it lands.
On screen. The widest view
7. sc07 · 0:56 to 1:18 data-chart
A national study estimated that among homes heating mainly with electricity, fuel oil or propane that already have air conditioning, 95 to 100 percent would see lower bills with a heat pump, depending on its efficiency. The median saving it estimated was $300 to $650 a year.
Visual. Two tiles: share of homes with lower bills on s07, median yearly saving on s08.
| Would see lower bills | 95%–100% | 95 | percent | Wilson 2024 (NREL and LBNL), heat pumps for all?, lines 393-L401 |
| Median saving per year | $300–$650 | 300 | usd | Wilson 2024 (NREL and LBNL), heat pumps for all?, lines 393-L401 |
8. sc08 · 1:18 to 1:35 data-chart
Homes on those fuels without air conditioning did worse: only 73 to 86 percent would come out ahead, and most of the homes whose bills went up were in hotter climates, where the new cooling cost more than the heating saved.
Visual. One tile, amber against the previous green: the share with lower bills drops.
| Would see lower bills | 73%–86% | 73 | percent | Wilson 2024 (NREL and LBNL), heat pumps for all?, lines 393-L401 |
9. sc09 · 1:35 to 1:49 data-chart
For comparison, among gas-heated homes with air conditioning, the same study put the median anywhere from a $70 loss to a $380 saving, depending on the heat pump.
Visual. Two tiles: the median loss in red, the median saving in green.
| Least efficient heat pump: loss | $70 | 70 | usd | Wilson 2024 (NREL and LBNL), heat pumps for all?, lines 393-L414 |
| Most efficient heat pump: saving | $380 | 380 | usd | Wilson 2024 (NREL and LBNL), heat pumps for all?, lines 393-L414 |
10. sc10 · 1:49 to 1:54 typography
That was an estimate. What about heat pumps running in real homes?
Visual. The question types on; "real homes" lights as it is spoken.
On screen. What about heat pumps running in real homes?
11. sc11 · 1:54 to 2:07 data-chart
A study of cold-climate heat pumps found the all-electric systems cut heating costs by 53 percent on average, measured against what electric resistance heaters would have used for the same heat.
Visual. One large tile, 53%, counting up as the figure is spoken.
| Average heating cost cut vs electric resistance | 53% | 53 | percent | CEE 2018, ducted and ductless cold-climate heat pumps in the field, lines 376-L382 |
12. sc12 · 2:07 to 2:18 document-excerpt
An evaluation of ductless mini-split heat pumps found them more cost-effective than electric resistance and propane heat at every energy price and every outdoor temperature it examined.
Visual. The evaluation's paragraph; the highlight sweeps across the mini-split result as it is spoken.
13. sc13 · 2:18 to 2:25 document-excerpt
Oil was different: there, the relative price of oil decided the outdoor temperature above which the heat pump won.
Visual. Same paragraph; the highlight moves down to the oil sentence, in amber.
14. sc14 · 2:25 to 2:44 typography
So the evaluators advised oil-heated homes to switch the heat pump off when it got very cold, when the oil system would run cheaper: below 8 degrees Fahrenheit in one year, and below 25 degrees the next, depending on that year's energy prices.
Visual. Two lines build: "Below 8°F in 2015" then "Below 25°F in 2016", each as its figure is spoken, in icy blue.
On screen. Below 8°F in 2015 / Below 25°F in 2016
15. sc15 · 2:44 to 3:01 document-excerpt
And another study found that in regions where homes heat with electricity or fuels other than gas, heating is generally more expensive and the net benefits of a heat pump are higher, though climate and energy prices also play an important role.
Visual. The study's paragraph; the highlight marks the net-benefit clause, then the caveat line lights faintly.
16. sc16 · 3:01 to 3:23 data-chart
Real projects show the same split: across 273 home electrification projects with cost data, some raised annual energy costs, in some cases by as much as $1,000 a year, while the big reductions were most likely in homes with high bills beforehand, such as those heating with propane or fuel oil.
Visual. Two tiles: the number of projects, then the largest yearly cost increase, in red.
| Projects | 273 | 273 | count | Less 2021 (LBNL), cost of decarbonization retrofits, lines 2700-L2706 |
| Largest cost increase per year | $1,000 | lte 1000 | usd | Less 2021 (LBNL), cost of decarbonization retrofits, lines 2700-L2706 |
17. sc17 · 3:23 to 3:27 typography
So does a heat pump always win?
Visual. The question types on again, as in the opening.
On screen. So does a heat pump always win?
18. sc18 · 3:27 to 3:41 typography
Against propane and electric resistance heat, this evidence says it nearly always does on running cost. Against oil, not always: whether it wins depends on the price of oil and how cold it gets.
Visual. Two lines build one per sentence: the propane and resistance line in green, the oil line in amber.
On screen. Propane and electric resistance: nearly always / Oil: depends on the price and the cold
Cite. Cadmus 2016; CEE 2018
19. sc19 · 3:41 to 3:50 typography
What none of this can do is price your own house: the results moved with air conditioning, climate and energy prices.
Visual. Three words stack as they are spoken: air conditioning, climate, energy prices.
On screen. Air conditioning / Climate / Energy prices
20. sc20 · 3:50 to 3:58 typography
If you heat with propane or baseboards, get installed quotes and set them against what you spend on fuel each winter.
Visual. "Get installed quotes" in large type.
On screen. Get installed quotes
21. sc21 · 3:58 to 4:12 typography
If you heat with oil, ask a different question: at this winter's oil and electricity prices, below what outdoor temperature does your old system run cheaper, and will you keep it for those days?
Visual. The question types on; "outdoor temperature" in icy blue.
On screen. Below what outdoor temperature does your old system run cheaper?
22. sc22 · 4:12 to 4:17 typography
Check your fuel and your rates before you check the brochure.
Visual. "Check your fuel and your rates" settles in large type; fade out.
On screen. Check your fuel and your rates