'Newsweek' reports that people in the United States are facing an energy crisis amid a cost of living crisis that's leading to difficult decisions like cutting back on heating.
According to a report by the Energy Information Administration, households that heat with oil or gas will see prices increase by as much as 28%.
Last month, CNN reported that Americans are turning their heating off entirely in an attempt to save money.
'Newsweek' spoke with experts to find out about the potential damage completelyturning off the heat could do to a house.
"Cold temperatures submit the various finishes and materials in your home to shrinking and the drying effects of the lower relative humidity levels usually not found in a climate-controlled home." John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.
"It is most often natural materials like wood flooring, wallpaper, and furniture that these effects are most noticeable at the surface level, ... but pipes freezing and splitting, boilers and radiators cracking, and refrigerant-driven appliances breaking down are all the next round of much deeper trouble you want to avoid at all costs." John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.
According to 'Newsweek,' experts say that insulating your home, while expensive, can save money in the long run.
"Efficiency is best gained by sealing the building or home. It doesn't matter how efficient your heating system is if all the heat it creates seeps out the windows and walls." John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, properly insulating your home could save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs per year.