Solutions to Heat/Cool a storage shed?

Hey all, trying to gather some opinions on what I would think is a somewhat non-standard use case.

I am turning an 8x14 (112sq ft) shed into an outdoor office for a detached workspace (I am a sysadmin). It will be insulated, have double pane windows and a house door. Electric will be run to it from my house. I am trying to decide on the best way to heat and cool the space, as it will essentially see year-round use as a conditioned space.

Location is central PA, so we have a wide range of temperatures from summer to winter.

My original idea was to pick up this Frigidaire window unit with a heat pump, which seems like it would likely do the job. I think I would window mount it for the first 6 mo- 1 year, and then maybe cut a hole in the wall for a permanent install. I looks like this unit would be able to provide enough heat for winter months since the heat pump functionality transitions to heat strips below ~40* or something (I could supplement with an oil filled electric or something). I got this idea from a cool solar shed build that some of you may have seen posted to reddit in the past - see here

Idea 2 was a mini-split. Looks like the smallest I could get is around 9k BTUs. This looks to be the cleanest install and certainly quietest. Definitely the most expensive up front cost, but it seems like it would win in long-term efficiency. Also seems like the heat pumps might not do too well in the ultra cold as well?

Option 3 is a PTAC. I wasn't actually familiar with this terminology until a few days ago, but I sort of see them as like an in-wall AC/heat. Middle-priced between the window unit and a mini split. In my case, I think installation would be pretty easy (I can have the shed built with the hole already in place).

As a no/low cost option I have also considered just using equipment I already have: an oil-filled electric heater and window AC unit. Probably highest electric cost (maybe same as others)? I think the oil filled heater could keep up on all but the coldest days.

Any thoughts or recommendations? Options I haven't considered?

submitted by /u/jassack04
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