Increase in wood as main source of household heating most notable in the Northeast

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
  • Hope everyone has a wonderful and warm Thanksgiving!
  • Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here
Status
Not open for further replies.

georgepds

Minister of Fire
Nov 25, 2012
878
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=15431

"Wood as a main heating source in homes has gained popularity in many areas of the country in recent years, but the increase is most notable in the Northeast. All nine states in the New England and the Middle Atlantic Census divisions saw at least a 50% jump from 2005 to 2012 in the number of households that rely on wood as the main heating source. As the use of fuel oil and kerosene in this region has declined in recent years, many households have turned to lower-cost alternatives, including wood.

"In total, about 2.5 million households (2.1%) across the country use wood as the main fuel for home heating, up from 1.9 million households (1.7%) in 2005. An additional 9 million households (7.7%) use wood as a secondary heating fuel. This combination of main and secondary heating accounts for about 500 trillion British thermal units (Btu) of wood consumption per year in the residential sector, or about the same as propane consumption and slightly less than fuel oil consumption.

"Heating stoves are the most common equipment used by households that rely on wood as the main source of heat, and fireplaces are the most common choice for secondary wood heating. Most households still burn split logs, although wood pellet use has risen in recent years. And while households in higher income brackets are more likely to use wood, those at lower income levels who burn wood consume more on average.
 
I dont get how such a small percent is equal to all propane use or oil heat. So the other 70% is ng and electric?
 
Last edited:
The question is also how much of those data are really accurate. I would bet our house is still listed as heated by natural gas when in reality we are probably at 50% wood, 30% NG, and the rest it electric. Despite most homes having NG here, I see a lot with pretty large wood stacks. Could be for fireplace use but I then they would seem to run it pretty often to need that amount of wood.
 
Grisu, with 100 million households in the US, 9 million is 9% using wood as secondary. Look at the membership around here....skewed heavily to oil and propane country....NE, midwest and mid-atlantic. The stats could be 20-30% in many of those areas.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.