New Hampshire Fuel Cost Comparison Calculator — Oil vs. Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Electric
Compare annual home heating costs across fuel types using New Hampshire average prices and real BTU-based efficiency formulas.
NH statewide average ≈ 7,383 HDD/year (Concord, NH baseline)
BTU loss factor per sq ft per HDD
Fuel Prices (edit to match your current quotes)
NH avg ~$3.85/gal (EIA, winter 2024–25)
NH avg ~$3.20/gal (EIA, winter 2024–25)
NH avg ~$1.65/therm (EIA, 2024; limited pipeline availability in NH)
NH avg ~$0.24/kWh (EIA, 2024 — among highest in US)
Formula
Step 1 — Annual Heat Load (BTU/year):
Annual BTU = Square Footage × Insulation Factor (BTU/sqft/HDD) × Annual HDD
Step 2 — Fuel Units Required:
Oil (gallons) = Annual BTU ÷ (138,500 BTU/gal × AFUE) Propane (gallons)= Annual BTU ÷ (91,500 BTU/gal × AFUE) Nat Gas (therms) = Annual BTU ÷ (100,000 BTU/therm × AFUE) Electric (kWh) = Annual BTU ÷ (3,412 BTU/kWh × COP)
Step 3 — Annual Cost:
Annual Cost = Fuel Units × Price per Unit
Efficiency-Adjusted Cost per MMBtu:
$/MMBtu = (Price per Unit ÷ BTU per Unit ÷ Efficiency) × 1,000,000
Assumptions & References
- Heating Degree Days: NH statewide average ≈ 7,383 HDD/year (NOAA, Concord NH baseline, 65°F base).
- Insulation factors (BTU/sqft/HDD): Poor = 8, Average = 6, Good = 4, Excellent = 2.5 — derived from ASHRAE simplified heat loss methodology.
- Heating Oil: 138,500 BTU/gallon (EIA); NH avg price ~$3.85/gal (EIA Winter 2024–25 Heating Fuels Report).
- Propane: 91,500 BTU/gallon (EIA); NH avg ~$3.20/gal (EIA 2024–25).
- Natural Gas: 100,000 BTU/therm; NH avg ~$1.65/therm (EIA 2024). Note: natural gas pipeline access is limited in NH — primarily available in southern NH cities.
- Electricity: 3,412 BTU/kWh; NH avg ~$0.24/kWh (EIA 2024 — NH has among the highest electricity rates in the US).
- Heat Pump COP (Coefficient of Performance): modern cold-climate heat pumps (e.g., Mitsubishi Hyper-Heat, Bosch IDS) achieve COP 2.5–3.5 in NH winters. COP varies with outdoor temperature.
- AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency): federal minimum for new oil/gas furnaces is 80%; high-efficiency units reach 95–98%.
- This calculator estimates annual space heating costs only. Water heating, appliances, and cooling are excluded.
- Prices fluctuate seasonally. Always obtain current quotes from local NH fuel suppliers.
- References: EIA Heating Fuel Prices, NOAA Climate Data, ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook, NH Office of Strategic Initiatives Energy Data.