Heating Fuel Comparisons

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Pollution lbs / mBTU (million BTU) Cost
Fuel Heat Output CO2 NOx SO2 Efficiency1 Price2 unit $USD / mBTU
Charcoal 9700 BTU / pound 3783 % $ / pounds
Coal (average) 23 MBTU / ton 212 2.16 % $ / ton
Corn 392 kBTU / bushel 3 % $ / bushel
Electricity 3412 BTU / kWh 2774 .554 .704 % $ / kWh
Firewood (Oak) 26 mBTU / cord 2213 .087 .004 % $ / cord
Firewood (Pine) 16 mBTU / cord 2213 .087 .004 % $ / cord
Gasoline 125 kBTU / gallon 190 % $ / gallon
Kerosene 135 kBTU / gallon 159 .143 % $ / gallon
Natural Gas 1013 BTU / ft^3 117 .283 .0006 % $ / cubic foot
Oil (#2 Heating) 138 kBTU / gallon 161 .143 % $ / gallon
Pellets or Biobricks 17 mBTU / ton 2213 .087 .004 % $ / ton
Propane 91 kBTU / gallon 139 .204 .0054 % $ / gallon
Wood (15% H2O) 8600 BTU / pound 2213 .087 .004 % $ / pound
Footnotes:
  1. Efficiency is the highest efficiency I could find available in Maine.
  2. Costs are what I could find in midcoast Maine, delivered, updated March 02008.
  3. Short cycle carbon, often not counted in greenhouse gases.
  4. For standard supply mix from Central Maine Power.