I have an older home that has been a challenge to heat. Constructed sometime in the very early 1900s, the property is not outfitted with conventional ductwork.We have ten-foot ceilings and big windows. The weather in our area is freezing cold and snowy for more than six months per year. We often see temperatures well below zero and blizzard conditions. Ever since buying the house, my husband and I have attempted to improve energy efficiency and comfort. When we first moved in, most of the windows were single pane, painted shut and leaked air. Because the windows are so big and are unique sizes, they require special order and are extremely expensive. We’ve gradually been replacing them. We also invested into new exterior doors, lots of caulk and weatherstripping. We’ve added insulation to the attic and installed ceiling fans that help to cool rooms down in the summer and better distribute the heat in the winter. While we’ve managed to tighten up the house and reduce the drafts and cold spots, we had trouble figuring out how to handle heating. We considered a ductless split system, but were concerned that a heat pump would be unable to provide effective comfort on especially cold days and nights. We eventually came across high-velocity units. Using flexible mini-ducts that can be snaked through existing walls, the system was installed without causing damage or sacrificing lying space. It works through a process of aspiration, delivering conditioned air into the rooms at a high rate of speed. This creates a slight suction, mixing old and new air to raise or lower temperature very quickly.