Can a Heat Pump Really Work in Minnesota?

In this recent Energy Vanguard post, Allison Bailes takes a close look at the performance of an 18,000 BTU/hr heat pump that has been the sole source of heat for an older Minnesota home for the past four years. Significant upgrades to the building envelope were required to make the transition from a gas-fired heat source to the heat pump, of course, but as Bailes notes, "There’s no reason to be afraid of installing a heat pump in a cold climate if you’ve done your homework."