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Table HC6.5 Space heating in U.S. homes by household income, 20151

Release date: February 2017
Revised date: May 2018

Number of housing units (million)
Household income
  Total U.S.2 Less than $20,000 $20,000 to $39,999 $40,000 to $59,999 $60,000 to $79,999 $80,000 to $99,000 $100,000 to $119,999 $120,000 to  $139,999 $140,000 or more
All homes 118.2 22.9 27.3 18.4 15.2 9.7 8.1 5.4 11.2
Space heating equipment                  
Use space heating equipment 113.1 21.7 25.9 17.6 14.5 9.3 7.9 5.3 10.8
Have space heating equipment but do not use it 3.6 0.7 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.3 Q Q 0.3
Do not have space heating equipment 1.6 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.2 Q Q Q Q
Main heating fuel and equipment                  
Natural gas 57.7 9.0 12.8 8.6 7.3 5.4 4.6 3.2 6.9
Central warm-air furnace 46.5 6.1 10.4 7.3 5.9 4.8 3.8 2.5 5.8
Steam or hot water system 6.6 1.9 1.2 0.7 0.8 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.7
Built-in room heater 2.2 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 Q Q Q Q
Some other equipment 2.4 0.4 0.6 0.3 0.3 Q 0.2 Q 0.3
Electricity 40.9 10.2 10.1 6.7 5.0 2.9 2.5 1.2 2.3
Central warm-air furnace 16.1 4.3 4.3 2.6 1.9 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.8
Heat pump 11.8 1.5 2.2 2.4 1.5 1.3 1.1 0.7 1.2
Built-in electric units 9.2 2.8 2.5 1.2 1.4 0.4 0.4 Q 0.2
Portable electric heaters 3.0 1.3 0.9 0.4 0.2 Q Q Q Q
Some other equipment 0.8 0.3 0.2 Q Q Q N Q N
Fuel oil/kerosene 5.8 1.3 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6
Central warm-air furnace 3.5 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
Steam or hot water system 1.7 0.6 Q Q 0.2 Q Q Q 0.3
Some other equipment 0.7 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Propane 5.0 0.8 1.1 0.7 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.6
Central warm-air furnace 3.8 0.5 0.9 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4
Some other equipment 1.2 0.2 0.2 Q Q Q Q Q 0.2
Wood 3.5 0.5 0.9 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.3 Q 0.4
Heating stove 2.7 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.4 Q 0.2 Q 0.3
Some other equipment 0.8 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Some other fuel3 Q Q Q Q Q N N N Q
Do not use heating equipment 5.1 1.1 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4
Main heating equipment (including all fuels)                  
Central warm-air furnace 70.1 11.4 16.2 11.1 9.1 6.3 5.3 3.5 7.2
Heat pump 13.4 1.7 2.5 2.6 1.6 1.4 1.2 0.9 1.6
Steam or hot water system 9.1 2.7 1.6 0.9 1.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.1
Built-in electric units 9.2 2.8 2.5 1.2 1.4 0.4 0.4 Q 0.2
Built-in oil or gas room heater 3.1 0.9 0.8 0.5 0.4 Q Q Q Q
Portable electric heaters 3.0 1.3 0.9 0.4 0.2 Q Q Q Q
Heating stove burning wood 2.7 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.4 Q 0.2 Q 0.3
Built-in pipeless furnace 1.1 0.3 0.3 Q Q Q Q Q Q
Fireplace 0.8 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Some other equipment 0.6 0.2 Q Q Q Q Q N Q
Do not use heating equipment 5.1 1.1 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4
Main heating equipment age                  
Less than 2 years old 11.2 2.3 2.8 1.6 1.4 0.9 0.7 0.5 1.0
2 to 4 years old 16.3 3.8 3.7 2.3 2.0 1.3 1.1 0.6 1.7
5 to 9 years old 28.4 5.5 6.3 4.6 3.4 2.5 1.9 1.4 2.7
10 to 14 years old 23.4 4.0 5.3 3.5 3.2 1.9 1.7 1.3 2.5
15 to 19 years old 13.6 2.0 3.1 2.4 1.8 1.0 1.3 0.6 1.4
20 or more years old 20.1 4.1 4.8 3.3 2.7 1.8 1.2 0.8 1.5
Do not use heating equipment 5.1 1.1 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4
Have thermostat for main heating equipment                  
Yes 100.3 17.3 22.8 15.7 13.3 8.8 7.5 5.0 10.0
Programmable thermostat 58.9 8.4 11.4 9.1 7.7 5.5 5.2 3.5 8.2
Non-programmable thermostat 41.4 8.9 11.4 6.5 5.6 3.4 2.3 1.5 1.8
No 12.8 4.5 3.1 1.9 1.2 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.8
Do not use heating equipment 5.1 1.1 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4
Smart or Internet-connected thermostat                  
Yes 4.0 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.8
No 93.4 15.4 21.3 15.1 12.8 8.3 6.8 4.5 9.2
Don't know 6.1 2.1 1.8 0.8 0.5 0.3 Q Q 0.3
Not asked (no thermostat or do not use heating and cooling equipment) 14.7 5.0 3.7 2.2 1.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.9
Main heating equipment control                  
Set one temperature and leave it there most of the time 44.8 10.0 12.0 6.9 5.7 3.4 2.4 1.5 3.1
Manually adjust the temperature at night or when no one is at home 29.2 4.7 6.8 5.0 4.0 2.8 2.1 1.5 2.2
Program the thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature during the day and night at certain times 19.0 1.3 2.2 2.9 2.4 2.2 2.4 1.7 4.0
Turn equipment on or off as needed 16.6 4.7 4.2 2.3 1.9 0.8 0.9 0.5 1.2
Household does not have control over the equipment 3.2 1.0 0.8 0.5 0.4 Q Q Q Q
Do not use heating equipment 5.1 1.1 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4
Secondary heating fuel and equipment                  
Secondary heating equipment used 43.5 5.5 8.8 7.0 6.0 4.0 4.2 2.7 5.3
Natural gas 7.5 0.6 1.2 1.0 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.7 1.7
Fireplace 6.2 0.3 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.5 0.8 0.6 1.5
Some other equipment 1.3 0.3 0.4 Q 0.1 Q Q Q Q
Electricity 23.0 3.7 5.3 4.1 2.9 2.0 2.0 1.1 1.9
Portable electric heaters 20.1 3.4 4.6 3.6 2.5 1.8 1.8 0.9 1.6
Some other equipment 2.9 0.3 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 Q 0.3
Wood 9.2 0.9 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.0 0.9 0.8 1.3
Heating stove 3.7 0.5 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4
Fireplace 5.4 0.4 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.9
Some other equipment Q N N N Q Q Q N N
Some other fuel 3.8 0.3 0.8 0.6 0.8 0.3 0.5 Q 0.4
Do not use secondary heating equipment 69.6 16.2 17.2 10.6 8.6 5.4 3.7 2.5 5.4
Do not use any heating equipment 5.1 1.1 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4
Winter indoor daytime temperature when someone is home                  
63 degrees or less 4.6 1.4 1.1 0.7 0.6 0.2 Q Q 0.2
64 to 66 degrees 10.6 2.4 1.9 1.7 1.4 0.9 0.8 0.5 1.0
67 to 69 degrees 31.5 3.9 6.8 5.2 3.7 3.2 2.4 1.9 4.3
70 degrees 25.9 5.4 6.0 3.6 3.4 2.0 2.0 1.3 2.3
71 to 73 degrees 20.7 3.1 4.8 3.3 3.1 1.9 1.8 0.9 1.8
74 degrees or more 19.8 5.5 5.3 3.1 2.3 1.2 0.7 0.5 1.2
Do not use heating equipment 5.1 1.1 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4
Winter indoor daytime temperature when no one is home                  
63 degrees or less 22.2 5.0 5.1 3.1 2.6 1.8 1.6 1.1 1.9
64 to 66 degrees 24.9 3.9 5.2 4.1 3.1 2.2 2.0 1.4 3.1
67 to 69 degrees 26.4 3.4 5.6 4.2 3.8 2.6 2.3 1.3 3.1
70 degrees 16.8 3.8 4.2 2.5 2.3 0.9 1.0 0.7 1.3
71 to 73 degrees 11.0 2.0 2.6 1.8 1.6 1.1 0.6 0.6 0.8
74 degrees or more 11.8 3.6 3.2 1.9 1.0 0.8 0.4 Q 0.7
Do not use heating equipment 5.1 1.1 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4
Winter indoor temperature at night                  
63 degrees or less 16.2 3.5 3.5 2.2 2.0 1.4 1.4 0.8 1.5
64 to 66 degrees 20.3 3.5 4.4 3.3 2.5 1.6 1.5 1.1 2.5
67 to 69 degrees 29.0 3.7 6.0 4.3 4.1 3.1 2.4 1.8 3.6
70 degrees 20.0 4.3 5.2 3.3 2.6 1.3 1.1 0.8 1.4
71 to 73 degrees 13.8 2.7 3.3 2.1 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.6 1.1
74 degrees or more 13.9 4.2 3.5 2.4 1.6 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.7
Do not use heating equipment 5.1 1.1 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4
Heated basement                  
Yes 22.9 1.6 4.3 3.2 3.4 2.5 2.5 1.6 3.7
No 12.3 1.7 2.5 2.0 1.8 1.2 1.0 0.8 1.3
Not asked (heated homes with no basement) 43.7 5.8 10.0 7.8 5.8 4.1 3.4 2.2 4.6
Not asked (unheated homes, apartments, and mobile homes) 39.4 13.8 10.5 5.4 4.2 1.9 1.3 0.8 1.5
Heated attic                  
Yes 2.5 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.6 0.3 Q Q 0.3
No 41.9 3.7 8.1 6.7 5.8 4.4 3.9 3.0 6.4
Not asked (heated homes with no attic) 34.5 5.1 8.2 6.1 4.6 3.2 2.7 1.7 3.0
Not asked (unheated homes, apartments, and mobile homes) 39.4 13.8 10.5 5.4 4.2 1.9 1.3 0.8 1.5
Heated, attached garage                  
Yes 2.9 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.4 Q 0.4
No 42.8 2.7 7.3 6.2 6.6 5.1 4.5 3.1 7.3
Not asked (heated homes with no attached garage) 33.2 6.1 9.0 6.3 4.2 2.5 1.8 1.4 2.0
Not asked (unheated homes, apartments, and mobile homes) 39.4 13.8 10.5 5.4 4.2 1.9 1.3 0.8 1.5
Humidifiers and usage                  
Have a humidifier 24.0 2.5 4.4 3.4 3.7 2.6 2.1 1.6 3.7
Do not use 0.8 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Used less than 4 months 10.0 1.4 1.8 1.5 1.7 1.1 0.8 0.6 1.1
Used 4 to 6 months 10.1 0.8 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.1 0.9 0.8 1.8
Used 7 to 9 months 1.3 Q 0.2 Q Q Q 0.2 Q 0.3
Used 10 to 11 months Q Q Q N N Q Q N Q
Turned on all 12 months 1.6 Q 0.4 Q Q Q Q Q 0.3
Do not have a humidifier 94.2 20.4 22.9 15.0 11.5 7.1 6.0 3.9 7.5

1Housing characteristics data were collected between August 2015 and April 2016.
2Total U.S. includes all primary occupied housing units in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Vacant housing units, seasonal units, second homes, military houses, and group quarters are excluded.
3Some other fuel includes coal and district steam.

Q = Data withheld because either the Relative Standard Error (RSE) was greater than 50% or fewer than 10 cases responded.
N = No cases responded.

Notes:  Because of rounding, data may not sum to totals.  See RECS Terminology for definition of terms used in these tables.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Consumption and Efficiency Statistics, Forms EIA-457A and EIA-457C of the 2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey.