A decade ago, most predicted that rising energy costs and more stringent energy efficiency regulations would spell the doom of all-electric heating systems while sparking the market for natural gas and geothermal heating systems. Things haven’t gone as predicted. Why? First, modest energy prices have prevailed, and heating loads for homes has declined dramatically due to improved efficiency of the building envelope. Second, single-family homes are actually getting smaller and they’re more likely to be one-level than two or more. Third, there’s been a surge in “exurb” development, neighborhoods being built outlying large metropolitan areas, away from the city and often without access to piped gas.