Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Heating oil is the most popular choice in Maine, used by 284,676 or 59.19% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Maine homeowners is propane, used by 62,744 homes (13.05%). The remaining homes are heated with natural gas (46,335), electricity (45,852), wood (36,575), and other fuels (12,863).
Maine Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Maine Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Heating Oil | 284,676 | 59.19% |
Propane | 62,744 | 13.05% |
Natural Gas | 46,335 | 9.63% |
Electricity | 45,852 | 9.53% |
Wood | 36,575 | 7.60% |
Other Fuels | 8,669 | 1.80% |
No Fuel | 1,985 | 0.41% |
Solar | 1,631 | 0.34% |
Coal | 578 | 0.12% |
Heating oil (59.19)
Propane (13.05)
Natural gas (9.63)
Electricity (9.53)
Wood (7.60)
Other fuels (1.80)
No fuel (0.41)
Solar (0.34)
Coal (0.12)
Heating oil has become less popular in Maine. In the 11 years since 2011, the number of heating oil homes fell from 330,891 to 284,676, a 13.97% drop.
Maine Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 330,891 |
2012 | 323,659 |
2013 | 314,214 |
2014 | 306,081 |
2015 | 298,972 |
2016 | 291,806 |
2017 | 287,069 |
2018 | 286,083 |
2019 | 285,451 |
2020 | 287,940 |
2021 | 285,388 |
2022 | 284,676 |
Between 2011 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 32,013 to 62,744.
Between 2011 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 23,105 to 46,335.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Maine. Since 2011, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 20,530 to 45,852, a 123.34% 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, 1,631 homes in Maine are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 665.73% increase from 2011, when only 213 homes had installed active solar heating.