Moving to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was a big change.
The scenery is absolutely gorgeous, but the weather is brutal.
The average temperature ranges from the single digits up into the mid to high eighties. It’s not unusual to experience sub zero conditions. Just a few years ago, the temperature plummeted to negative thirty-two degrees. We expect around forty inches of annual snow. Because of the climate extremes, heating and cooling are essential systems for every home. Monthly utility bills are a constant concern. I spent a small fortune to install a hybrid heating system into my home. While most homes are outfitted with a furnace and an air conditioner, I have a furnace and a heat pump. The heat pump was far more expensive than a conventional air conditioner but has paid for itself in energy savings. The advantage of a heat pump is that it provides both heating and cooling. The system easily handles summer demands, providing energy efficient cooling and effective dehumidification. When the weather cools off, the system reverses the flow of refrigerant to supply heat. It takes advantage of ambient heat available in the outdoor air. Because the heat pump doesn’t generate heat by way of burning fossil fuels, it is especially environmentally friendly, clean and safe. It also costs a lot less to operate than the furnace. There are no worries over carbon monoxide, fumes or hot surfaces. The heat pump manages requirements until the outdoor temperature dips below freezing. At that point, the furnace automatically takes over. We enjoy ideal comfort no matter what the weather brings.