Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Hampden County, used by 1,462,335 or 52.38% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Hampden County homeowners is heating oil, used by 663,749 homes (23.78%). The remaining homes are heated with electricity (490,395), propane (123,474), wood (34,021), and other fuels (50,956).
Hampden County Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Hampden County Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 1.4M | 52.38% |
Heating Oil | 663,749 | 23.78% |
Electricity | 490,395 | 17.57% |
Propane | 123,474 | 4.42% |
Wood | 34,021 | 1.22% |
Other Fuels | 24,655 | 0.88% |
No Fuel | 19,283 | 0.69% |
Solar | 5,465 | 0.20% |
Coal | 1,553 | 0.06% |
Natural gas (52.38)
Heating oil (23.78)
Electricity (17.57)
Propane (4.42)
Wood (1.22)
Other fuels (0.88)
No fuel (0.69)
Solar (0.20)
Coal (0.06)
Heating oil has become less popular in Hampden County. In the 9 years since 2013, the number of heating oil homes fell from 798,470 to 663,749, a 16.87% drop.
Hampden County Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 851,319 |
2012 | 827,983 |
2013 | 798,470 |
2014 | 770,791 |
2015 | 746,949 |
2016 | 723,433 |
2017 | 707,835 |
2018 | 690,486 |
2019 | 678,224 |
2020 | 667,484 |
2021 | 662,876 |
2022 | 663,749 |
Between 2013 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 69,678 to 123,474.
Between 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 1,241,379 to 1,462,335.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Hampden County. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 353,733 to 490,395, a 38.63% 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, 5,465 homes in Hampden County are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 512.67% increase from 2013, when only 892 homes had installed active solar heating.