Energy Solutions for NJ

We all share the same goal of clean, affordable energy. But what’s the right path?

In the Northeast, space heating accounts for anywhere from 35% to 50% of the average household’s energy costs. Losing heat on the most frigid winter days in New Jersey can be a serious health and safety issue. Garden State families need dependable and affordable energy solutions for heating their homes — not to mention for cooking their food, drying their clothes, powering their cars and more.

The good news is that New Jersey has practical ways to control energy costs that don’t affect greenhouse-gas emissions or energy security. The best solution for our state keeps things affordable. It offers the most choice to consumers, while being practical and effective in reducing the impact of our residential spaces on the planet.

How does NJ stay warm?

Different households have different needs and priorities to maintain a level of comfort and well-being. The following breakdown demonstrates how households are heating their homes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration:

• Natural gas: about 70%
• Electric heat: about 17%
• Heating oil, propane and other petroleum products: about 9%
• Other: about 4%

What works for your home?

The home heating source you choose depends on a range of factors, including the following:

• Many households appreciate the efficiency and versatility of natural gas, located near a natural gas utility line which is the main heating fuel in the state.
• Heating oil has been a tried-and-true fuel source for home heating and hot water production. Residents can enjoy its robust and increasingly low-carbon heat generation without having to spend tens of thousands of dollars to convert to another energy source.
• Similarly, propane provides dependable heating, hot water and gas for appliances. Petroleum products are delivered by locally owned and locally operated fuel providers who’ve served their communities for decades.
• Electric heat pump systems have become more popular as a heating source in New Jersey, but converting your home can cost tens of thousands of dollars — and these systems can struggle to maintain comfortable temperatures in winters like the one we just experienced. Which is why homeowners who ignored “expert” advice to remove their existing furnaces when they installed an electric electric heat pump were thankful to not have do so.

One size doesn’t fit all for NJ home energy

Every family is unique, with individual comfort needs and budget concerns. New Jersey’s housing stock runs the gamut from centuries-old structures to post-World War II houses to new construction. Which is why electric heat pumps alone, especially in retrofit scenarios, may not be the best choice.

With so many variables affecting how easily you can heat your home, it makes sense for you to have as many energy choices as possible. You can install an electric heat pump if it’s in your budget and the right model can keep you warm, but you also have the option of an oil-fired furnace or a gas-powered boiler.

We want to hear what you think about maintaining energy choice and keeping your home’s energy affordable in New Jersey. Contact us to share any concerns or ask us a question about heating alternatives in your part of the state.