Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Heating oil is the most popular choice in Fairfield County, used by 539,715 or 38.13% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Fairfield County homeowners is natural gas, used by 516,459 homes (36.49%). The remaining homes are heated with electricity (244,511), propane (75,150), wood (23,585), and other fuels (30,431).
Fairfield County Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Fairfield County Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Heating Oil | 539,715 | 38.13% |
Natural Gas | 516,459 | 36.49% |
Electricity | 244,511 | 17.27% |
Propane | 75,150 | 5.31% |
Wood | 23,585 | 1.67% |
Other Fuels | 18,400 | 1.30% |
No Fuel | 9,314 | 0.66% |
Solar | 1,852 | 0.13% |
Coal | 865 | 0.06% |
Heating oil (38.13)
Natural gas (36.49)
Electricity (17.27)
Propane (5.31)
Wood (1.67)
Other fuels (1.30)
No fuel (0.66)
Solar (0.13)
Coal (0.06)
Heating oil has become less popular in Fairfield County. In the 4 years since 2018, the number of heating oil homes fell from 565,439 to 539,715, a 4.55% drop.
Fairfield County Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 654,783 |
2012 | 644,340 |
2013 | 627,716 |
2014 | 613,504 |
2015 | 595,244 |
2016 | 581,382 |
2017 | 574,588 |
2018 | 565,439 |
2019 | 556,309 |
2020 | 551,817 |
2021 | 544,406 |
2022 | 539,715 |
Between 2018 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 55,429 to 75,150.
Between 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 481,116 to 516,459.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Fairfield County. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 221,755 to 244,511, a 10.26% 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, 1,852 homes in Fairfield County are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 79.46% increase from 2018, when only 1,032 homes had installed active solar heating.