The ideal design (IMHO) for a cold-climate (such as New England) is forced air ducting with a heat pump (better GSHP than ASHP if possible) with a 2-zone high efficiency natural gas boiler for domestic hot water and AUX heat.
People always forget the hot water. A GSHP usually has a de-superheater that can provide some heat during the shoulder seasons, but you can't rely on it and need the backup heat (as you do for the AUX heat for both when it's super-cold out and for the defrost cycle).
People always forget the hot water. A GSHP usually has a de-superheater that can provide some heat during the shoulder seasons, but you can't rely on it and need the backup heat (as you do for the AUX heat for both when it's super-cold out and for the defrost cycle).