CHICAGO (MarketWatch) — Homeowners can expect greater heating costs this winter, as the combination of a colder weather forecast intersects with higher energy prices.
According to the most recent outlook from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration, those who heat their homes with heating oil could see heating costs rise 25.6% this winter, compared with last winter. Those who use propane could see their costs rise 20.2%, and those who use natural gas could see a 10.7% rise.
Those estimates could change with the weather, said Jonathan Cogan, energy information specialist at the Energy Information Administration. A warmer than expected winter could drive costs down, while a colder one could boost them up even more.
But people who aren’t willing to gamble with Mother Nature might want to consider home improvements that will help keep costs down this year as the weather gets chilly.
Sometimes the hardest part about making those improvements is deciding how to select and prioritize the projects, said Maria Vargas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman for the government’s Energy Star program. Click here to read the rest!
Filed under: Home Improvement | Tagged: Heating, Home Improvement
