Heating oil, also known as fuel oil or Number 2 oil, has been a popular choice for homeowners since the early 1900s. As an alternative to coal or wood as a fuel source for boilers and domestic hot water production, heating oil proved to be a reliable, clean, and economical choice for millions of consumers, especially in the Northeast where other fuel types were often more difficult to acquire or were more expensive.

But it is not an environmentally conscious fuel choice. Propane gas has the same remote fuel benefit, coupled with fewer emissions and higher efficiency equipment. This course details economic and environmental reasons why switching from heating oil to propane is a good choice for homeowners, residential builders or remodelers.


Learning Objectives

  • Describe the history and current use of heating oil in the United States.
  • Understand which alternative fuel sources are available to current heating oil consumer.
  • Complete a heating analysis of alternative fuel energy choices.
  • Understand why propane is a superior alternative to heating oil and explain considerations for converting from heating oil to another energy source.

Pre-Requisite: None.