Sticker shock on your heating bills this winter may be the incentive you need to make your home more energy efficient. Or, you may need some extra help paying those higher bills. This Cold House takes a closer look at why heating costs are going up, and what you can do about it.
How are you handling the cold?
Your response to a few brief questions will help shape our coverage of energy issues — and you'll be included in the MPR News Public Insight Network.
Share your heating horror story
Join a discussion about astronomical bills or personal circumstances that resulted in very low or no heat.
Online Editor: Melanie Sommer Art Director: Ben Tesch
What are the cheapest ways to cut down on your heating bill? Think you know how to pinch enough pennies to make a real difference? Take our quiz and find out.
Hedging your bet on high heating costs
by Laura McCallum Some utilities offer so-called "fixed rate plans," where you can lock in your natural gas rates. It may be a tempting offer, but most experts say you'll probably pay more for the peace of mind.
One woman's struggle to pay for heat
by Lorna Benson Many Minnesotans will need to adjust their budgets to pay for higher heating costs this winter. For those with no flexibility in their budget, heating assistance money is the only thing keeping them from financial ruin.
High energy costs squeeze school budgets
by Tim Pugmire Higher heating costs could mean cooler classrooms and tighter budgets for many Minnesota schools. Public schools got a big boost in state funding, but rising natural gas prices might force school leaders to spend thousands of dollars they hadn't planned on.
Beating the high cost of energy -- with corn
by Erin Galbally In the wake of spiking energy costs, corn has been redefined as a fossil fuel alternative -- not just as a source for making ethanol, but as a fuel for furnaces.
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