Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Long Island, used by 494,539 or 50.55% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Long Island homeowners is heating oil, used by 372,316 homes (38.06%). The remaining homes are heated with electricity (72,512), propane (32,054), no fuel (10,576), and other fuels (14,145).
Long Island Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Long Island Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 494,539 | 50.55% |
Heating Oil | 372,316 | 38.06% |
Electricity | 72,512 | 7.41% |
Propane | 32,054 | 3.28% |
No Fuel | 10,576 | 1.08% |
Other Fuels | 6,775 | 0.69% |
Wood | 4,773 | 0.49% |
Solar | 1,928 | 0.20% |
Coal | 669 | 0.07% |
Natural gas (50.55)
Heating oil (38.06)
Electricity (7.41)
Propane (3.28)
No fuel (1.08)
Other fuels (0.69)
Wood (0.49)
Solar (0.20)
Coal (0.07)
Heating oil has become less popular in Long Island. In the 10 years since 2012, the number of heating oil homes fell from 476,326 to 372,316, a 21.84% drop.
Long Island Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 487,699 |
2012 | 476,326 |
2013 | 462,390 |
2014 | 449,135 |
2015 | 436,117 |
2016 | 421,206 |
2017 | 412,668 |
2018 | 400,279 |
2019 | 390,813 |
2020 | 382,562 |
2021 | 376,550 |
2022 | 372,316 |
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 12,452 to 32,054.
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 389,949 to 494,539.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Long Island. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 56,347 to 72,512, a 28.69% increase.
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all space heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank in the basement.
Currently, 1,928 homes in Long Island are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 1202.70% increase from 2012, when only 148 homes had installed active solar heating.
Short Term Trends
Heating Season | Average Temperature |
---|---|
Winter 2022 - 2023 | 47° F |
Winter 2021 - 2022 | 41.1° F |
For Long Island homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 707 heating oil companies that serve Long Island is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 93 “full-service” oil companies that serve Long Island. Full service companies such as A Sforza & Sons Inc Consolidated Fuel or Above All Heating Inc offer automatic fuel delivery and furnace repair under a single roof.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel Companies” or “Cash Heating Oil Companies”, these companies are for the budget-conscious Long Island homeowner. In return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank and place an order when you run low on oil. Examples of cash heating oil companies that serve Long Island include A R Fuels Inc and AA Fuel Oil LLC Wise Choice Fuel Oil.
Long Island Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Long Island: 707 companies
Average Number Of Long Island Homes Served Per Company: 526 homes