Cold weather spikes often mean higher energy bills. Ash-har Quraishi has tips on how people can "energy audit" their own homes and lower the cost of their monthly heating bills.

Millions of Americans are facing higher heating bills this winter, with experts predicting an increase of over 9% compared to the previous year. Homeowners using electric heat may pay over $1,200 for the season, while those with natural gas could spend around $700. 

To help reduce these costs, experts recommend starting with a home energy audit to identify and seal leaks around doors, windows, and outlets. Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, improving attic insulation and ventilation, and seeking assistance from utility companies or government programs can also help lower energy expenses.

How to save on heat and energy costs this winter

All right, we're going to talk about my favorite thing guys now, money. Money, honey. In this morning's Money Watch, millions of Americans have been dealing with plenty of wintry weather going into Christmas, and that means higher heating bills, something a lot of us really can't afford right now. National Consumer Correspondent, Usher Qureshi, looks at what's behind the rising costs and how you can save money. 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. This comes as Americans are already paying around 18% more for both groceries and housing compared to 2022. There are ways to lower your energy costs and it starts with a home audit. To walk us through how that works, we're joined by building consultant, Justin Castronova. Justin, where should you start? The best place to start, Usher, would typically be your doors and windows around the exterior of the home. In this home in particular, we can actually see there's holes here and you can feel the cold air blowing through these gaps. Tackle the obvious leaks. 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 could 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. Fireplaces may be festive, but they could cost you. A fireplace doesn't necessarily always heat your house. No. Very limited amounts do. Most would lose more heat than it would create. 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 one to two inches, and normally I would want to see one to two feet. And ventilation is really important in an attic, right? Yes. Why is that? We need air to move. Circulation will allow to keep the inside of your house more comfortable and minimize the exterior problems with snow and ice melt. Some utility companies will give you a free home energy audit or even incentives to help you make energy-saving upgrades. If you're struggling with high energy bills, there are state and federal programs that can help you cut costs. You can also reach out to local nonprofits and your utility company to find out about grants or payment plans. The best way to find out what you qualify for is to dial 211. For CBS Mornings, I'm Asher Qureshi in Arlington Heights, Illinois. I mean, it's expensive. Incredibly expensive. My mom used to say, just put on a hat, put on a sweater, you know, because we're not moving this thermostat. Yep, yep. I bring down the blankets. I'm like, we are just going to use these. Exactly. I'm like, Ma, I can see my breath. You were weak. I love what he said, though, because this time of year, you always think, oh, fireplace. That can actually make things more expensive. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a good point.

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