Hvac peoples
Where most folks run into issues is that they're used to NG heat feeling warm, and HP heat really doesn't. Gas furnaces typically have register temps above 100F, where a heat pump might push air at or several degrees below the thermostat setting with a maximum typically around 80F (this varies wildly depending on the install, unit, and tech!).
Some folks wind up turning up the stat enough to get there that they drown out the energy savings. In most cases though, the effiency is high enough that the cost is typically no worse and often still much better. Plus the added upside of air conditioning in the summer.
I think this touches on one of the issues (and maybe misunderstandings) of current heatpumps. Many people have gotten used to programmable setback 'stats, and then relying on Morning Warm-up to get the space up to temp during Occupied Modes (I'm using Commercial buildings terms here, but the idea is the same).
I do this at home as well.
Much like the cooler Discharge Air temps that condensing furnaces put out versus what we all grew-up with, the newer air source HPs don't supply that nice, warm (110* or so ) air that everyone seems to want still. Efficiency just means the Manufacturer is grabbing
every last bit of BTU/H out of their equipment as possible, which, in many cases, means lower Discharge Air temps.
We service a couple recently renovated "green" buildings here in Minne-a-no-place with rooftop HPs, and there was a nasty learning curve with the tenants/owners at first, as everyone is used to using standard Night Setback & Morning Warm-up routines in the BMS system. And why not? It saves money, right?
But as you pointed out, and as I mentioned, HPs don't generate that nice 110* air, so the MWU schedules didn't work, and because the end users were cold every morning, they cranked-up up the stats (more is better, right?) in an effort to get the units running hotter, faster. Guess what happens when stats are turned-up too high, and people forget about them?
Anywhoooo....With the building owner's permission our Service Techs removed the Night Setback and MWU schedules from the BMS schedules over the summer, and they're letting the buildings settle out at a constant, 24/7 temp, as the Consulting Engineers feel that not only will this ease complaints, but also will ultimately save some $$$. So far we've had about 10-12 nights where's it's gotten down to 20* or so, and as far as I've heard (knock on wood), no complaints or Service Calls!
We'll see.
