Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Heating oil is the most popular choice in Southern Maine, used by 167,298 or 58.18% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Southern Maine homeowners is propane, used by 37,433 homes (13.02%). The remaining homes are heated with natural gas (35,237), electricity (27,239), wood (16,273), and other fuels (8,182).
Southern Maine Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Southern Maine Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Heating Oil | 167,298 | 58.18% |
Propane | 37,433 | 13.02% |
Natural Gas | 35,237 | 12.25% |
Electricity | 27,239 | 9.47% |
Wood | 16,273 | 5.66% |
Other Fuels | 5,677 | 1.97% |
No Fuel | 1,418 | 0.49% |
Solar | 829 | 0.29% |
Coal | 258 | 0.09% |
Heating oil (58.18)
Propane (13.02)
Natural gas (12.25)
Electricity (9.47)
Wood (5.66)
Other fuels (1.97)
No fuel (0.49)
Solar (0.29)
Coal (0.09)
Heating oil has become more popular in Southern Maine. In the 3 years since 2019, the number of heating oil homes rose from 164,647 to 167,298, a 1.61% lift.
Southern Maine Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 189,578 |
2012 | 185,709 |
2013 | 180,656 |
2014 | 176,181 |
2015 | 172,110 |
2016 | 168,673 |
2017 | 166,348 |
2018 | 165,495 |
2019 | 164,647 |
2020 | 166,755 |
2021 | 166,603 |
2022 | 167,298 |
Between 2019 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 31,067 to 37,433.
Between 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 32,265 to 35,237.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Southern Maine. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 18,956 to 27,239, a 43.70% 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, 829 homes in Southern Maine are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 85.87% increase from 2019, when only 446 homes had installed active solar heating.