Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Union Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Union, used by 2,627,206 or 74% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Union households is Electricity, used by 617,773 homes (17%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (5%), Propane (2%), Other (0.4%), and Solar (0.3%).
Union County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,627,206 | 70,406 | 617,773 | 185,324 | 10,688 | 11,798 | 14,006 |
| 2024 | 2,623,428 | 66,233 | 592,186 | 198,050 | 10,223 | 10,926 | 13,381 |
| 2023 | 2,552,593 | 95,605 | 606,537 | 215,314 | 10,749 | 9,388 | 20,755 |
| 2022 | 2,560,329 | 89,511 | 568,299 | 231,690 | 10,054 | 7,925 | 17,145 |
| 2021 | 2,545,038 | 87,258 | 555,363 | 240,765 | 9,820 | 7,643 | 19,506 |
| 2020 | 2,509,666 | 79,338 | 501,738 | 241,254 | 10,094 | 6,464 | 16,414 |
| 2019 | 2,474,295 | 71,419 | 448,114 | 241,742 | 10,368 | 5,284 | 13,323 |
| 2018 | 2,435,183 | 67,930 | 437,888 | 258,889 | 12,069 | 4,626 | 14,313 |
| 2017 | 2,425,008 | 62,490 | 415,119 | 271,265 | 11,994 | 4,801 | 12,938 |
| 2016 | 2,389,530 | 59,916 | 423,650 | 271,179 | 13,466 | 3,212 | 14,924 |
| 2015 | 2,398,744 | 61,082 | 385,792 | 299,222 | 14,398 | 1,781 | 12,721 |
| 2014 | 2,393,423 | 62,396 | 384,329 | 309,236 | 14,471 | 1,748 | 13,957 |
| 2013 | 2,354,824 | 60,943 | 388,226 | 329,733 | 17,421 | 1,270 | 10,710 |
| 2012 | 2,368,222 | 60,990 | 377,997 | 356,378 | 13,974 | 1,002 | 10,889 |
| 2011 | 2,342,608 | 58,315 | 360,855 | 376,568 | 11,869 | 332 | 7,917 |
| 2010 | 2,344,455 | 63,241 | 343,112 | 392,540 | 11,886 | 325 | 8,439 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Union
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Union. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of households using number two heating oil declined from 198,050 to 185,324, a 6% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Union
Between 2024 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 66,233 to 70,406, a 6% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel remained unchanged at 2,627,206, a 0% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Union
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Union. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 592,186 to 617,773, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Union
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. As it stands today, 11,798 homes in Union are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 8% gain from 2024, when 10,926 homes used active solar heating.
Union County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Union County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Union’s overall heating oil consumption varies yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Union was 33.5°F, which was 4.7°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Union County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 33.5° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 38.2° F |
Union County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Union households heating with oil, selecting which of the 29 heating oil companies that serve Union makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 18 “full-service” oil companies that serve Union. Full service companies such as Advantage Oil or Skylands Energy Service offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Union cash heating oil companies serving Union include Affordable Oil and Longhorn Oil Company.
Union Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Union: 29 companies .
Average Number of Union Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 6390
Union Heating Oil Delivery Overview
185,324 residences in Union heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Union temperatures drop as low as 28.8° F each winter. 5.2% of Union residences are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.
2.6% of Union County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Union County Households | Union County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 7.1M | 185,324 |
489 Union Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 169,797,916 gallons of heating oil delivered to Union homeowners the last heating season, the Union community looks to its 489 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Union, two of the closest terminals are Sunoco in Linden, NJ and Sunoco in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Union and the surrounding vicinity.
