winter heating bills Archives | Citizens Utility Board https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/tag/winter-heating-bills/ Fight utility rate hikes, promote clean energy, and advocate for consumer protections in Illinois. Mon, 18 Oct 2021 21:57:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cropped-CUB_LogoBadgeAlt-32x32.png winter heating bills Archives | Citizens Utility Board https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/tag/winter-heating-bills/ 32 32 Winter preparedness: Weatherstripping https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2021/10/15/winter-preparedness-weatherstripping/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 15:12:26 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=32730 Using weatherstripping in your home to seal air leaks is a simple and effective way to improve energy efficiency and save money on heating bills. Weatherstripping can also protect the integrity of your home’s insulation by preventing warm, moist air from escaping through it.  But before you take a trip to your local hardware store, first inspect your doors and windows for air leaks. It may also be helpful to measure the perimeters of all the places you plan to install weatherstripping, to get an idea of how much you should purchase.   There are several types of weatherstripping available at the hardware store. The most common are felt, adhesive-backed foam; vinyl “V” strips; and door sweeps. A quick review of hardware stores found that felt and foam weatherstripping run between $3 and $10. Vinyl V strips cost a range of about $5 to $25, and a door sweep costs about $15 to $40.           From left to right: Felt, adhesive-backed foam, vinyl V weatherstripping and a door sweep Be sure to choose the correct type of weatherstripping for the area of your house you are sealing by taking into account potential exposure to moisture, wear and tear and weather changes. Check out the Department of Energy’s helpful fact sheet on choosing weatherstripping and installation.  Installing weatherstripping can be relatively simple (depending on what type you’ve chosen). Refer to the product’s instructions for best practices with your specific type of weatherstripping.  Before installing, prepare your home surfaces by cleaning them with soap and water, and allowing them to dry completely. Windows If you are using foam tape for your windows, apply weatherstripping to the fixed frame that supports the glass, also known as a sash. Repeat this step for as many windows as necessary. When the windows in your home are closed, the foam’s airtight barrier will prevent cold air from coming in and warm air from escaping through the window frame. Tip: Foam tape can wear down with constant friction, so be sure to periodically check on the condition of your weatherstripping and replace as necessary. Many homeowners choose to use vinyl V strips for double-hung or sliding windows instead of adhesive-backed foam. Open the window by pulling the bottom sash up as far as it can go and cut a piece of weather stripping the length of the opening. Remove the backing and push the weatherstripping into place. Repeat this step with the upper sash. When the window is closed, the “V” will close and create an airtight seal.  There are a lot of online resources to show you how window weatherstripping works, such as this Lowe’s step-by-step guide. Also, watch this video from Mr. Hardware’s YouTube channel.  Doors If you elect to use foam tape for your doors, apply one strip on each side along the length of the door. Ensure the tape fits securely and tightly at the corners. You may instead choose to install a door sweep. Place the sweep against the exterior of your door so that there is no light coming through. With the sweep in place, mark the location […]

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]]> It could be an expensive winter https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2018/12/10/it-could-be-an-expensive-winter/ Mon, 10 Dec 2018 15:28:34 +0000 https://citizensutilityboard.org/?p=16126 Midwestern homes that heat with natural gas on average could see a 14.5 percent increase in bills this winter, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). But gas customers in Central and Southern Illinois are seeing their costs go down. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) says consumers will see higher heating bills due to a rise in consumption and prices. Crain’s Chicago Business reported that Peoples Gas is estimating the average  resident will spend more than $800 in heating costs through March, compared with about $787 last year. For suburban residents, Nicor’s December price (36 cents per therm) is still 21 percent lower than Peoples’ (45.49 cents per therm). Last year, city residents paid 80 percent more for heat than their suburban neighbors. The main reason for the price disparity is Peoples’ ongoing pipeline replacement program, which CUB worries could spark a heating-affordability crisis. Nobody disagrees that the pipes should be replaced, but CUB argues the company should go about it in a more cost-efficient manner. In central and downstate Illinois, customers are actually seeing their heating costs drop. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved a change in Ameren’s gas delivery charges. Customers will see this portion of their bill reduced by 94 cents, in addition to a 10 percent drop in supply costs. Residents are expected to pay almost $3 less for gas each month. By January, customers enrolled with Ameren for both gas and electricity will see an $8 decrease in their monthly bills. Steve Daniels, Crain’s Chicago Business reporter, has been covering the latest in heating prices for Chicago-area consumers. Read how 1 in 10 Chicago Households Threatened with Gas Cutoffs this Year and why Chicago Households Could Pay Much More for Heat this Winter. Winter heating bills making you scratch your head? Check out CUB’s guide to Making Sense of Your Gas Bill.

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