I just wanted to know if anyone knows if the compressor is used for heat or is heating elements used because unless the emerg. Heat is on you don't feel really a lot of heat when temp drops.

No. Emergency heat is from the strip heaters and they do eat up KW's. That is why heat pumps, unless specifically designed for cold weather are not a good choice in northern climates.

Perhaps I should clarify my first post. Yes the heat pump in winter, really an air conditioner working in reverse, removes ambient heat from the air and heats the house. However, when it is cold, heat pump efficiency drops dramatically UNLESS you have a heat pump designed for colder climates. When the temperature drops below a set point then the strip heaters come on as noted in my original post.