Two years later, a 116-year-old St. Paul home is (still) all electric!

Back in 2023, Mroz Risse shared that her family chose to install a cold-climate air source heat pump (ASHP) with ducts after being priced out of their original plan for a geothermal system. Two years later, she says they’re confident they made the right choice.

“We have experienced two winters and two summers,” Mroz Risse says. “We have found the system to be comfortable overall. During the hottest weeks of the summer, our home stays cool and humid-free.”

During Minnesota’s harshest cold snaps, Mroz Risse says they’ve occasionally needed to supplement with other heating sources, but overall, the system has lived up to its promise.

“It really only occurred on the coldest days below 0 degrees and required us to simply bundle up with sweaters and blankets and supplement with electric heat,” she says. “Who doesn’t like an excuse to get cozy!?”

Given the choice, they said they would make it again. In fact, they did. Earlier this year, the couple decided to set up an accessory dwelling unit (studio apartment) above their garage.

“We had no questions regarding the type of system we would install for heating and cooling. Because it was a smaller space, we did select the mini-split (ductless) version of the ASHP,” Mroz Risse says. “It’s performing as expected and works great for the space!”

Environment revealed their home was 72% more efficient than before, far surpassing their original goal of 40%. Mroz Risse credits the improvement to a mix of strategies, including spray foam insulation, better air sealing, and restoring rather than replacing the home’s original windows.

“The biggest lesson learned was that energy efficiency is complicated, messy, and costly,” she reflected in her original story. “But based on my experience, I am optimistic that we can transform our homes into clean, healthy, and cost-effective places to share with our families.”

That optimism still holds true. Today, the couple continues to rely entirely on electricity for heating, cooling, and appliances, with no gas meter needed. Their experience offers a look at what the journey into all-electric living can look like in an old home: occasionally messy, sometimes cozy, and almost always rewarding!