An Official Statistics Publication

Published by: Energy Intelligence Team, Energy Group,
Department for the Economy

Contact: Nial McGoran
Email:
Publication Date: 24 September 2026

Theme: Energy, Environment and Climate Change
Source: Continuous Household Survey
Coverage: Northern Ireland
Frequency: Annual


1. Introduction

This report presents the results of the household heating and insulation questions from the 2025/26 Continuous Household Survey (CHS) with comparison to comparable data from previous surveys and is the third in the series to be published by the Department for the Economy (DfE).

The CHS is a Northern Ireland-wide household survey administered by the Central Survey Unit (CSU) of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). It is based on a systematic random sample of addresses selected from the NISRA Address Register. The survey has been running since 1983 and is designed to provide a regular source of information on a wide range of social and economic issues relevant to Northern Ireland.

The CHS 2015/16 and 2016/17 household heating results were previously reported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). These can be found on the DAERA website.

Data Accuracy
Throughout this report, statistically significant differences between comparable estimates are identified. Unless otherwise stated, differences observed may be due to sampling variation and should not be interpreted as statistically significant.

Download tables (Excel)


2. Key Points


  • In 2025/26, the majority of households (63%) reported oil central heating as their primary method of household heating. The comparable figure in 2024/25 was 61%.

  • Just over one-third (34%) of households reported gas as the primary method of heating their home in 2025/26. The comparable figure in 2024/25 was 36%.

  • Among the 11 Northern Ireland Local Government Districts (LGDs), Mid Ulster had the highest proportion of households using oil central heating as their primary method of home heating (95%), while Belfast had the highest proportion using gas central heating (79%) .

  • In 2025/26, four-fifths (81%) of households with more than one heating method reported using an open/closed fire or stove as their secondary method, similar to 80% in 2024/25.

  • Among households using a solid fuel fire or stove for secondary heating, wood logs were the most common fuel (48%), followed by ordinary coal (24%) and smokeless coal (23%).

  • In 2025/26, 96% of households reported that some or all of their windows were double-glazed, with a further 3% reporting that some or all were triple-glazed. Additionally, nearly three-quarters (74%) had some form of loft insulation, just under one-fifth (19%) had some form of roof insulation, and almost three-fifths (57%) had wall insulation.


3. Primary Heating Method


  • Oil central heating was reported by 63% of households as the primary method of heating in Northern Ireland in 2025/26, which was similar to the 2024/25 figure (61%) and statistically significantly lower than the 2015/16 figure (70%).

  • Gas central heating was reported by just over one-third (34%) of households as the primary heating method in 2025/26, which was similar to the 2024/25 figure (36%) and statistically significantly higher than the 2015/16 figure (24%).

  • The proportion of households citing open or closed fires as their primary heating method decreased from 4% in 2015/16 to 1% in 2025/26. Similarly, the use of electric heating declined from 2% to 1% over the same period. Both decreases are statistically significant.


Figure 1a: Almost two-thirds (63%) of households used oil central heating as the primary method of heating in 2025/26.

Proportion of households by primary heating method, 2015/16 and 2025/26
Figure 1A tabs
Chart
View Data
Proportion of households (%)
Primary heating method 2025/26 2015/16
Oil central heating 63 70
Gas central heating 34 24
Electric heating 1 2
Open/closed fire or stove 1 4
Notes
  1. Electric heating includes Electric storage heaters (e.g. Economy 7), Electric fire/ heater and Dimplex radiators.
  2. Primary heating method respondent options included Other and None. The counts for these options have been excluded from the chart. Therefore, totals may not add to 100%.
  3. The 2015/16 response options for primary heating method included Range and Gas fire. The counts for these have been included in the figure for Open/closed fire or stove. These options were not available in other years.
  4. This chart includes error bars, which represent the range in which we are 95% confident the true value lies.
End tabs


  • In Belfast, 79% of households used gas central heating as their primary method of home heating, the highest proportion among the 11 LGDs. In contrast, 18% of households used oil central heating.

  • In Mid Ulster, 95% of households used oil central heating as their primary method of heating, the highest proportion among the 11 LGDs. The equivalent estimate for gas central heating was considered unreliable for publication due to low counts.


Figure 1b: Belfast had the highest proportion of households (79%) using gas central heating as the primary method of home heating, while Mid Ulster had the highest proportion of households (95%) reporting oil central heating.

Primary heating method by Local Government District, 2025/26

Interactive map: If the map does not display correctly, please refresh the page.


Figure 2 tabs
Oil
Gas
View Data
Proportion of households (%)
Local Government District Gas central heating Oil central heating
Antrim & Newtownabbey 48 48
Ards & North Down 58 41
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon 20 77
Belfast 79 18
Causeway Coast & Glens 12 83
Derry City & Strabane 22 74
Fermanagh & Omagh 87
Lisburn & Castlereagh 52 47
Mid & East Antrim 36 64
Mid Ulster 95
Newry, Mourne & Down 12 85
Notes


  1. A blank value in a table or map indicates that the estimate is considered unreliable for publication.

  2. Gas central heating refers to mains gas only.

  3. Estimates for the ‘Other’ primary heating method category at Local Government District level are considered unreliable and have therefore been suppressed. As a result, percentages may not sum to 100%.


End tabs


It should be noted that not all areas of Northern Ireland are connected to the gas network. Consequently, the proportion of households using gas as their primary heating source varies across the region. Urban and suburban areas typically have greater access to the gas network, while many rural and western areas have limited or no access.

The CHS sample is not designed to ensure that households in areas with and without access to the gas network are proportionally represented. As a result, estimates relating to the use of gas as a primary or secondary heating source may be affected by the over- or under-representation of households in certain areas. This should be taken into account when interpreting the results, as it may affect the accuracy and reliability of the estimates presented.

The CHS estimates are broadly consistent with findings from Census 2021. However, differences in reference period, question wording, survey design and methodology should be considered when making comparisons between the two sources.

Further information on gas usage in Northern Ireland, including consumption by Local Government District, is available in the Energy in Northern Ireland 2026 report published by the Department for the Economy.


  • Oil central heating was the predominant primary household heating method in Northern Ireland for detached (80%) and semi-detached (60%) homes in 2025/26. Flats and maisonettes mainly used gas central heating (80%).

  • Gas central heating was the predominant primary household heating method for Housing Executive and Association rental properties (62%), while the majority of those owning their own homes (74%), those with a mortgage or loan (59%) and those in private rental properties (62%) used oil central heating in 2025/26.


Figure 2: The majority (80%) of detached households used oil, while for flats or maisonettes the majority (80%) used gas central heating as their primary method of heating in 2025/26.

Proportion of households by type of accommodation and primary heating method, 2025/26
Figure 2 tabs
Chart
View Data
Proportion of households (%)
Primary heating method Detached Semi-detached Terraced Flat
Oil central heating 80 60 48
Gas central heating 17 38 49 80
Other 3 12
Notes
  1. The Other category includes Electric heating, Open/closed fire or stove, Other and None options.
  2. Data Accuracy: This chart includes error bars, which represent the range in which we are 95% confident the true value lies. Estimates with small sample sizes that are deemed unreliable have been suppressed and are displayed as blank in the table.
End tabs


  • Half (50%) of households in Northern Ireland used a timer or programmer as a method of controlling their primary source of heat in 2025/26. The equivalent figure in 2024/25 was 48%.

  • In 2025/26, 37% of households stated that they used a manual on/off switch only to control their primary source of heat, unchanged since 2024/25.

  • In 2025/26, 78% of households reported having thermostatic radiator valves, compared with 79% in 2024/25.


Figure 3: Half (50%) of households reported using a timer or programmer to control their primary heating method in 2025/26.

Proportion of households by primary heating control method, 2025/26
Figure 3 tabs
Chart
View Data
Proportion of households (%)
Description Proportion
Timer or programmer 50
Manual on/off 37
Room thermostats 5
Smart heating controls 4
Boiler thermostat 4
Other
Notes
  1. Data Accuracy: This chart includes error bars, which represent the range in which we are 95% confident the true value lies. Estimates with small sample sizes that are deemed unreliable have been suppressed.
End tabs


4. Secondary Heating Method


  • In 2025/26, 46% of households reported having more than one method of heating which is statistically significantly higher than the equivalent figure in 2024/25 (42%).

  • Of those households with more than one method of heating, just over four-fifths (81%) used an open/closed fire or stove as their secondary heating source. This is statistically significantly higher than the equivalent figure in 2015/16 (75%).

  • Of those households with more than one type of heating, 16% used Electric Heating (all types) as their secondary source of heat. This is a statistically significant increase of 4 percentage points on the 2022/23 estimate (12%) and a statistically significant decrease of 3 percentage points on the 2015/16 estimate (19%).


Figure 4: The majority (81%) of households with a secondary heating method used an open/closed fire or stove in 2025/26.

Proportion of households by secondary heating method, 2015/16 and 2025/26
Figure 4 tabs
Chart


View Data
Proportion of households (%)
Secondary heating method 2025/26 2015/16
Open/closed fire or stove 81 75
Electric heating 16 19
Other 3 5
Notes
  1. Data Accuracy: This chart includes error bars, which represent the range in which we are 95% confident the true value lies.
  2. Electric heating includes Electric storage heaters (e.g. Economy 7), Electric fire/ heater and Dimplex radiators.
  3. The 2015/16 response options for secondary heating method included Range and Gas fire. The counts for these have been included in the figure for Open/closed fire or stove. These options were not available in other years.
End tabs


  • The proportion of households reporting the use of wood (logs) as a secondary method of heating in open/closed fires or stoves was 48% in 2025/26, making it the most commonly used solid fuel. The equivalent figure in 2024/25 was 45%.

  • The proportion of households reporting that they burnt wood (logs) as a secondary source of heat was 59% in 2021/22, the highest in this series and statistically significantly higher than the 2025/26 estimate. The equivalent proportion in 2015/16 was 24%, statistically significantly lower than the 2025/26 estimate.

  • The use of ordinary household coal has declined (60% to 24%) while the use of smokeless coal has increased (12% to 23%) over the period 2015/16 to 2025/26. These changes are statistically significant.


Figure 5: In 2025/26, Wood (logs) was the most common (48%) solid fuel burned as a secondary method of heating in Open/Closed Fires or Stoves. In 2015/16, ordinary household coal was the most common (60%) solid fuel burned as a secondary heat source.

Proportion of households by solid fuel burned as secondary method of heating, 2015/16 and 2025/26
Figure 5 tabs
Chart
View Data
Proportion of households (%)
Solid fuel type 2025/26 2015/16
Wood (logs and other) 48 24
Ordinary household coal 24 60
Smokeless coal 23 12
Other 4 5
Notes
  1. Other includes all peat products and other wood products.
  2. Wood (logs) includes fully seasoned/dry and unseasoned/wet.
End tabs


5. Oil Purchasing Behaviours


  • In 2025/26, just under half (49%) of households reported that they did shop around when ordering heating oil. This figure has not changed significantly since the data were first collected in 2021/22.

  • Of those households that did not shop around when ordering heating oil, the majority (65%) cited their primary reason was that they liked to use their local supplier while just over a fifth (22%) of households reported that there isn’t much difference in price between oil companies.


Figure 6: The reliability of their local supplier is the main reason (65%) given by those for not shopping around when ordering oil.

Proportion of households by primary reason for not shopping around when ordering home heating oil, 2025/26
Figure 6 tabs
Chart
View Data
Proportion of households (%)
Description Proportion (%)
Prefer reliable local supplier 65
Small difference in price 22
Other 7
I can’t be bothered / too much hassle 5
Notes
  1. The ‘Other’ category includes options: ‘I didn’t know I could shop around’, ‘I don’t have time’ and ‘None’.
End tabs


6. Household Insulation


  • The 2025/26 CHS data indicate that there are no significant changes in the rates of reported household insulation since 2024/25.

  • Double glazing remains the most reported insulation method (96%) while those with triple-glazing in some or all of their windows was 3%.

  • Nearly three-quarters (74%) of households in Northern Ireland had some form of loft insulation, almost three-fifths (57%) had wall insulation, just under one-fifth (19%) roof insulation and almost one in ten households reported having insulated floors in 2025/26.


Figure 7: 96% of households in Northern Ireland reported having double glazing, the highest proportion recorded for any insulation measure.

Proportion of households by insulation method, 2025/26.
Figure 7 tabs
Infographic

Infographic showing a house with loft insulation seventy four percent, some or all windows double-glazed ninety six percent and wall insulation fifty seven percent.

View Data
Proportion of households (%)
Insulation Method Percentage
Some or all windows double glazed 96
Loft insulation 74
Wall insulation (cavity or solid) 57
Roof insulation 19
Floor insulation 9
Some or all windows triple glazed 3
Notes
  1. Loft insulation includes households that reported having insulation in the loft space.
  2. Wall insulation includes cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation and other forms of wall insulation.
  3. Floor insulation includes households that reported insulation beneath suspended or solid floors.
  4. Households can have more than one energy efficiency measure therefore percentages may not sum to 100%.
End tabs


7. Background Notes


Continuous Household Survey

The CHS is an annual survey of households designed to provide a regular source of information on a wide range of issues relevant to Northern Ireland. The CHS collects data on a variety of topics, such as internet access, the environment, tourism, health, sport and education. The survey also collects information on household accommodation and tenure as well as data from household individuals.

The survey design and data collection are conducted by the Central Survey Unit within NISRA. The sample consists of approximately 8,940 households selected using a systematic random sampling method from the NISRA Address Register (NAR). The NAR is developed within NISRA and is primarily based on the Land and Property Services (LPS) Pointer database. Data are collected by personal interview at a household level and an individual level. Interviews are conducted throughout the 12-month period April to March to reduce seasonal bias.

The CHS contained household heating questions in 2015/16 and 2016/17, while household heating and insulation questions were included in the surveys conducted 2021/22 to 2025/26. In 2025/26, 3,459 households took part in the survey and the overall response rate was 45%. The response rate for the 2015/16 CHS was 64%.

DAERA published detailed reports on the 2015/16 and 2016/17 household heating data. These reports can be found on the DAERA website. The CHS 2025/26 heat and insulation questions can be found on the DfE website.


Data Accuracy

The results presented in this report are based on a household survey and are estimates of the proportion of households in Northern Ireland. These estimates are subject to a margin of error, which can affect how changes over time should be interpreted. Statistical significance is assessed at the 95% level.

Surveys produce estimates of the ‘true’ population values and can be affected by both sampling and non-sampling error. Users should keep this in mind when interpreting the data.

When survey responses are collected using a random sampling method, such as the CHS sample design, statistical theory allows us to estimate the potential size of sampling error for any percentage result. This error helps us calculate a 95% confidence interval, which is the range within which we are 95% confident the true value lies. For example, if 60% of 1,000 respondents say they take regular walks, we can estimate the true value lies within 57% and 63%. This can be written as 60% ± 3%. On charts, confidence intervals are often shown as bars or whiskers extending above and below the estimate.

It is important to note that as the number of respondents decreases, the uncertainty increases, resulting in a wider confidence interval.

The accuracy of survey estimates is also assessed using the coefficient of variation (CV), which is calculated as the ratio of the standard error to the estimate. A smaller CV indicates a more accurate estimate. Estimates with a CV between 20% and 30% should be treated with caution, while estimates with a CV greater than 30% are considered unreliable for practical purposes and are therefore suppressed from publication.

Non-sampling errors refer to systematic inaccuracies that occur when the survey sample does not perfectly represent the overall population. For example, certain groups may be less likely to respond, leading to biased results. Non-sampling errors are minimised by robust sampling methods, well-designed questionnaires and active fieldwork management.


Significant Difference

We can use statistical theory to decide whether a difference between two survey-based estimates reflects a true change rather than being attributable to random variation in the sample selection. A 95% standard is used in this report to test significance. The observed change or difference is statistically significant at the 95% level if there is less than a 1 in 20 chance of the observed change being calculated by chance if there is no actual underlying change. Statistically significant difference can be assumed if confidence intervals do not overlap. However, if intervals do overlap a statistical test is required to determine statistical significance in difference.


Percentage Points

A percentage point is the unit used to describe the difference between two percentages. It is important to distinguish this from a percentage change, which refers to a relative increase or decrease.


Users

The longitudinal data collected on household heating and insulation in the CHS enables analysis of trends in heating systems, solid fuel usage and household insulation. These data are used within government to assess the impact of policy and identify long-term patterns in household behaviour.


Official Statistics

These official statistics are produced in compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards by emailing energyintelligence@economy-ni.gov.uk. Alternatively you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.


Useful Links

Continuous Household Survey 2025/26: Heat and Insulation Questions (opens in a new window)

Technical Information: Continuous Household Survey, NISRA (opens in a new window)

Quality and Methodology Information Report, 2025/26 (opens in a new window)

Heating Statistics from the Continuous Household Survey, 2015/16 and 2016/17, DAERA (opens in a new window)

Background Information: Continuous Household Survey, NISRA (opens in a new window)