Eau Claire: Heating Types

Utility Gas

• The census defines utility gas to "include gas piped through underground pipes from a central system to serve the neighborhood".  Utility gas has the highest percentage of all heating types in the area.  Utility gas is very popular because it is cleaner and more efficient than other heating types.
   
• The largest percent (55-78%) of homes heated using utility gas are located on the Northside, Eastside Hill, 3rd Ward, and Putnam Heights Area and the area south of Putnam Heights.
   
• The smallest percent (<20%) of homes heated using utility gas is located in the Town of Brunswick.

Electric Heat

• The census state that electricity "is generally supplied by means of above or underground electric power lines". The use of electric heating is comparable to the use of heating by bottled, tank or LP gas in the Eau Claire.

• The areas that use the largest percentage (31-41%) of electric heating include the Central Business District (CBD), Bollinger Fields Area (the area south of the University), and the area surrounded by Hastings Way, Fairfax St. and Hwy 94.  This is because there are many apartments in those areas and landlords like to use electric heat because it is cheaper to install.

• The areas that use the smallest percentage (<11%) of electric heating include the Northside, the Town of Seymour, the 3rd Ward, Putnam Heights, and the Town of Brunswick.

Wood Heating

• The census states that wood heating "includes purchased wood, wood cut by household members on their property or elsewhere, driftwood, sawmill or construction scraps, or the like".

• As the map shows very few homes (<4%) are heated by wood in the City Limits.   With the current fuel costs more and more people, especially in the country are heating their homes with wood.  They are able to get the wood from their own back yards as many homes in the country are surrounded by woods.  In the Eau Claire County the highest percentage of homes heated with wood is 16%, however this will go up with the continuing increase in fuel prices.

Bottled, Tank, or LP gas

• The census states that bottled, tank, or LP gas "includes liquid propane gas stored in bottles or tanks which are refilled or exchanged when empty". 
   

• The largest percent (38-44%) of homes heated with bottled, tank or LP gas to heat their homes is located in the Town of Brunswick.  This is because the homes in the country don't have access to city utility gas pipes and thus use bottled, tank, or LP gas.
   

• The smallest percent (<2%) of homes heated with bottled, tank or LP gas to heat their homes are located on the Northside, University Area, and Putnam Heights Area and the area surrounding Putnam Heights.  It is interesting to note that many of the areas that use utility gas don't use bottled, tank, or LP gas and vice versa.  It is also interesting to note that bottled, tank or LP gas heating is only the 4th largest heating type used in Eau Claire County.  The largest percentage for bottled, tank, or LP gas is so high because in that one area (Town of Brunswick) many people use this form of heating, therefore skewing the statistics.

Fuel oil, Kerosene, Etc.

• The census states that fuel oil, kerosene, etc. "includes fuel oil, kerosene, gasoline, alcohol, and other combustible liquids".

• The largest percent (19-26%) of homes heated by fuel oil, kerosene, etc are located on the Northside, the Northside Hill and River Fronts, the Eastside Hill, 3rd Ward, Putnam Heights, Town of Union, and the Town of Brunswick.  Many of these homes are older and the homeowners have not replaced the older fuel oil, or kerosene furnaces.  However, even though there are many areas with a large percent of homes heated by these types because the percentage is low compared to other heating types this is only the 3rd largest heating type in the Eau Claire Area. 

• The smallest percent (<4%) of homes heated by fuel oil, kerosene, etc. are located in the University Area, and the Area south of Putnam Heights.  The area south of Putnam Heights have some newer homes and persons with the monetary means to replace their older furnaces.

• The Census has an additional category of coal or coke.  They state that "this category includes coal or coke that is usually distributed by truck".

• The map shows that the only area that uses coal to heat their homes is in the University Area with 45%.  The rest of Eau Claire doesn't heat their homes with coal heat.  This is because the University heats their dormitories with coal.

• Related Links: Movement into Eau Claire in past 10 years, Units within Household, Renters in Poverty, Median Gross Rent as Percentage of Income, Median Real Estate Taxes, Median Monthly Owner Costs

Created by Aleisha Urness on 08 June 2007.