Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Hampshire County, used by 1,462,335 or 52.38% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Hampshire 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).
Hampshire County Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Hampshire 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 Hampshire County. In the 10 years since 2012, the number of heating oil homes fell from 827,983 to 663,749, a 19.84% drop.
Hampshire 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 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 65,204 to 123,474.
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 1,225,355 to 1,462,335.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Hampshire County. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 345,759 to 490,395, a 41.83% 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 Hampshire County are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 653.79% increase from 2012, when only 725 homes had installed active solar heating.