Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Western Mass, used by 140,247 or 42.90% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Western Mass homeowners is heating oil, used by 90,376 homes (27.64%). The remaining homes are heated with electricity (60,612), propane (21,112), wood (10,122), and other fuels (8,447).
Western Mass Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Western Mass Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 140,247 | 42.90% |
Heating Oil | 90,376 | 27.64% |
Electricity | 60,612 | 18.54% |
Propane | 21,112 | 6.46% |
Wood | 10,122 | 3.10% |
Other Fuels | 4,268 | 1.31% |
No Fuel | 2,672 | 0.82% |
Solar | 1,078 | 0.33% |
Coal | 429 | 0.13% |
Natural gas (42.90)
Heating oil (27.64)
Electricity (18.54)
Propane (6.46)
Wood (3.10)
Other fuels (1.31)
No fuel (0.82)
Solar (0.33)
Coal (0.13)
Heating oil has become less popular in Western Mass. In the 10 years since 2012, the number of heating oil homes fell from 115,290 to 90,376, a 21.61% drop.
Western Mass Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 119,918 |
2012 | 115,290 |
2013 | 110,154 |
2014 | 104,115 |
2015 | 99,825 |
2016 | 95,698 |
2017 | 93,264 |
2018 | 91,567 |
2019 | 92,494 |
2020 | 91,445 |
2021 | 90,477 |
2022 | 90,376 |
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 12,764 to 21,112.
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 122,358 to 140,247.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Western Mass. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 46,156 to 60,612, a 31.32% 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, 1,078 homes in Western Mass are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 1462.32% increase from 2012, when only 69 homes had installed active solar heating.
Short Term Trends
Heating Season | Average Temperature |
---|---|
Winter 2022 - 2023 | 38° F |
Winter 2021 - 2022 | 31.8° F |
For Western Mass homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 154 heating oil companies that serve Western Mass 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 38 “full-service” oil companies that serve Western Mass. Full service companies such as Alpha Oil Company Inc or Alves Fuels 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 Western Mass 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 Western Mass include Roberts Energy Llc and Central Oil Co.
Western Mass Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Western Mass: 154 companies
Average Number Of Western Mass Homes Served Per Company: 586 homes