Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Heating oil is the most popular choice in Rutland County, used by 108,499 or 41.06% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Rutland County homeowners is natural gas, used by 50,127 homes (18.97%). The remaining homes are heated with propane (50,123), wood (35,629), electricity (19,788), and other fuels (7,814).

Rutland County Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households

Fuel	Rutland County Households	% of Households
Heating Oil	108,499	41.06%
Natural Gas	50,127	18.97%
Propane	50,123	18.97%
Wood	35,629	13.48%
Electricity	19,788	7.49%
Other Fuels	5,692	2.15%
Solar	1,042	0.39%
No Fuel	619	0.23%
Coal	461	0.17%

Heating oil (41.06)

Natural gas (18.97)

Propane (18.97)

Wood (13.48)

Electricity (7.49)

Other fuels (2.15)

Solar (0.39)

No fuel (0.23)

Coal (0.17)

#2 Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Rutland County

Heating oil has become less popular in Rutland County. In the 9 years since 2013, the number of heating oil homes fell from 119,422 to 108,499, a 9.15% drop.

Rutland County Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)

Year	Heating Oil Households
2011	128,566
2012	124,072
2013	119,422
2014	117,459
2015	114,826
2016	111,441
2017	111,092
2018	110,704
2019	108,976
2020	110,870
2021	108,747
2022	108,499

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Rutland County

Between 2013 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 38,281 to 50,123.

Between 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 40,794 to 50,127.

Electricity use for home heating in Rutland County

Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Rutland County. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 11,902 to 19,788, a 66.26% increase.

Solar use for home heating in Rutland County

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, 1,042 homes in Rutland County are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 547.20% increase from 2013, when only 161 homes had installed active solar heating.