[hallidave]

In cold climates, heat pumps are usually supplemented with electrical resistance heating (or even gas in some cases). The switch over is automatically controlled by the thermostat. No need for a wood stove or other hassles.

[luckylion]

And when the electricity fails, all the systems fail. Pretty sure you'd be happy to have a wood stove in that case.

[mrguyorama]

When the electricity fails, you put on a jacket and get under a blanket and wait patiently for CMP to restore your power. Most of us don't have emergency powerless heating. Even with a supposedly unreliable electricity grid here in Maine, it's still pretty common to only have heating that requires electricity to operate. Even in the north, where it's very rural and way colder, wood stoves are still an interesting thing that only some people have.

It gets cold every year, you just get used to it. It's not hard.

[luckylion]

I suppose it's the frontier spirit that makes you say "it's -30°F, you put on a jacket and get under a blanket".

I'm pretty sure civilization would end over here if Germany had temperatures where F and C come close and heating failed.

[mrguyorama]

The first winter my ancestors spent in this country, half of them died from lack of food and heat. They quite literally didn't know how to function in a non-temperate climate.

The survivors were too stubborn to die so their descendants are often the same.

[fomine3]

A car (ICE/HEV/PHEV/BEV/FCEV) could be a backup heater

[aidenn0]

Do the pipes in your house not freeze at 30 below with no heat?

[mrguyorama]

It takes time for your place to cool down enough for that to be an issue, and proper pipe insulation is also a normal thing here.