I just moved to Albuquerque from the northeast, & barely missed 1 of the worst Winter blizzards on record.
My parents were snowed in at their beach house & lost power for 2 afternoons, however were otherwise okay because of their storm generator & wood stove to keep warm.
I was absolutely upset about them because they lost cell cellphone service as well & I had no plan if they were even okay & alive until the storm passed & the power was restored. I would rather avoid this kind of weather altogether, which makes Albuquerque a great locale to live. The two of us get lows into the 20s during winter, which is entirely chilly enough for snowfall. However, the people I was with and I constantly get a light dusting of snow compared to the northeast where our parents live. And whenever the people I was with and I have a mild morning with warmer weather, I don’t even have to use our central heater! Since I have a heat pump, I barely pay as much for indoor heating to begin with. Heat pumps are popular in Albuquerque because they supply you an & a central furnace in 1 single machine. In both cases you’re utilizing the refrigerant cycle to transport heat from 1 location to another. When it’s time to cool your house, heat is pulled through the refrigerant to the compressor outside to be released into the air. To heat your house, the process is reversed & any ambient heat in the outdoor air will be absorbed & released into your house. Aside from being both economical & effective, I have heard that heat pumps are much more environmentally friendly as well. Either way, you couldn’t get me to switch back to a regular furnace even if you offered to pay me.