SIMPLE FIXES FOR BIG SAVINGS ON HOME HEATING

With fuel prices expected to rise 10% or more this winter, making your home more energy efficient will really pay off.

- BY DAVID RODECK

As winter grows near, home heating bills are giving Americans chills around the country.

Driven by a projected 20% rise in wholesale natural gas prices for 2026, the cost of keeping your home toasty could rise sharply, depending on where you live and the type of fuel you use. Electricity is expected to lead the price hikes, with double-digit jumps in some parts of the country, followed by more-modest increases in the cost of residential natural gas. The price of home heating oil, though still the most expensive way to keep a house warm, is expected to remain flat or perhaps drop in price in some areas.

“Even with temperatures forecast to mirror last winter, home heating costs are expected to rise about 10% overall, as utilities pass higher fuel costs directly to consumers,” says Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.

How can you ease the pinch? “The smartest and cheapest thing homeowners can do is focus on efficiency first,” says Laura Bowler, design lead with Ramboll, a sustainable architecture and engineering consulting firm. “Simple steps can make a big impact.” Here are some to consider.