Name: How to save money on your energy bill as heating costs surge
Uploaded: 2025-12-27T01:29:53.046Z
Duration: 1 min 27 s
Description: The cost of heating a home is going through the roof, but there are steps you can take to try to keep your energy bills down.

The cost of heating a home is going through the roof, but there are steps you can take to try to keep your energy bills down.

Chicago

Heating bills are rising sharply as cold weather increases demand and delivery costs, with experts predicting over a 9% increase from the previous year. Homeowners using electric heat may pay over $1,200 for the season, while those with natural gas could spend around $700.

Experts recommend sealing gaps, maintaining weather stripping, upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, and improving attic insulation to lower energy costs. Some utility companies also offer free home energy audits or incentives to help residents make energy-saving upgrades.

How to save money on your energy bill as heating costs surge

Bundle up, this winter has already been a cold one and more frigid air is on the way. I'm freezing, my nose hurts. Heating bills are already climbing due to higher demand and delivery costs and surging power usage. Experts predict a more than 9% jump from last year, costing homeowners with electric heat more than $1,200 for the season and natural gas homeowners around $700. In this home in particular, we can actually see there's holes here and you can feel the cold air blowing through these gaps. Building consultant Justin Castronova says homeowners can make fixes to lower energy costs. Maintaining your weather stripping, caulking around the inside and outside with the appropriate caulk because there is different kinds and then around the outlets you can spray foam around it after turning off the power of course and then they do make gasketed covers with a weather seal to minimize the drafts. Another cost saving upgrade, newer appliances. And this unit is energy rated. It's an upfront cost that saves you long term. Anywhere from $10 to $50 a month depending on the size of the appliance and how many you have. And in older homes, to help bring bills down, just look up. In this attic in particular, there's not anywhere near enough modern insulation. You have about 1 to 2 inches and normally I would want to see 1 to 2 feet. Some utility companies will give you a free home energy audit or even incentives to help you make energy saving upgrades. Asher Qureshi, CBS News, Chicago.

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