A growing number of U.S. households are turning to electricity for heating, even though natural gas remains the dominant energy source for this purpose. As per the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 42% of homes relied on electricity for space heating in 2024, a slight increase from previous years. Meanwhile, natural gas accounted for 47% of heating fuel, down from 49% in 2010. This shift in heating preferences reflects demographic changes, technological advancements, and evolving policies affecting residential energy use.
The changing landscape of home heating is closely tied to the movement of the U.S. population towards warmer climates in the West and South, reducing the overall demand for heating. Data from the Residential Energy Consumption Survey indicates that houses in warmer regions are more likely to utilize electricity as their main heating source, or they may not require heating fuel at all. Conversely, colder areas tend to see greater reliance on heating oil, propane, and wood.
Recent policies banning natural gas in new housing developments have emerged in several states due to concerns around air quality linked to burning fossil fuels. Many of these regulations are currently facing legal challenges. Technological advancements in electric air-source heat pumps have also played a significant role in increasing the proportion of homes that primarily use electric heating, particularly in regions with colder temperatures.
The choice of heating fuel often extends to other household energy uses. Homes that primarily use natural gas for heating tend to also use it for water heating, cooking, and drying clothes. Likewise, those that heat with electricity are inclined to use electric energy for these same applications. Notably, for the first time, the Residential Energy Consumption Survey recently published monthly estimates for energy consumption and expenditures associated with electricity and natural gas, revealing seasonal variations in energy use, particularly between winter and other seasons.