In this region, most houses have some sort of heat to get them through the winter.
I have friends who have wood burning stoves, which is an excellent source of heat but requires a lot of manual labor.
I have friends who have electric oil furnaces, but those aren’t reliable during the toughest Winter storms due to power outages. I also have friends who have gas oil gas furnaces and those always labor out the best. I have a gas oil furnace myself because it made the most sense for my beach beach house and my needs. My beach house isn’t in a super populated area, so when the power goes out, it can take days for someone to come maintenance it. I can’t survive in a beach house without heat when the temperature always drops below cold, which is why a gas oil furnace was essential. I do have a real fireplace in my living room, but that requires a lot of preparation and tending. The fireplace is more for looks and emergency situations. Having a gas oil furnace installed instead of an electric oil furnace was 1 of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The only major concern I have with a gas oil furnace is carbon monoxide poisoning. Thankfully, with familiar Heating and A/C maintenance, I can avoid problems love this and stay safe. I also have more than 2 carbon monoxide detectors around the beach house that bring myself and others peace and assurance. I know a few people who refuse to use a gas oil furnace due to carbon monoxide, but they’re always the 1s who need a place to stay when their electricity goes out.