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This winter will be cruel-we are not talking about the weather.

The price of oil and gas has soared, which means that your heating bill will also soar. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released a 2021 winter energy outlook report. It is estimated as follows:

Watch the video above: Our Chief National Consumer Correspondent, Jeff Rossen, shows some simple tips to help reduce utility bills.

Thermostat: Turn down the heating when you sleep and go to work. Turn it down by 7 to 10 degrees to save 10%. When you go on vacation, set it to 55 degrees to save even more money! Smart thermostats really help with this. If you forget to turn off the thermostat, you can adjust it with your phone after you leave home.

Adjusting the ceiling fan: The direction in which the fan rotates is actually important. In summer, the fan should rotate counterclockwise. But in winter, the fan should rotate clockwise. In this way, cold air will be pulled toward the ceiling, and the ceiling will replace the warm air rising and gathering near the ceiling. Make sure it runs at the lowest speed. How to switch directions? Most ceiling fans have a button on the control panel on the wall or on the included remote control. If you have an older ceiling fan, there will be a switch on the motor, located outside or below the light.

Candle test: Drafts from windows, doors or wall sockets can be a waste of money. They let in cold air while sucking in hot air from your house. Energy experts say the candle test is a good way to find drafts. You can do this in several ways: light a candle and [carefully] place it around the frame of the door and window. If the flame is flickering, there may be airflow in. Or, blow out the candle and observe if the smoke starts to move horizontally. If you see any of these two conditions happening, take some caulk and seal the area.

Curtains: during the day, let the sun work. Open the curtains and let the sun warm your home—especially the south-facing windows. (I don't know which side is south? You have a compass app on your smartphone.) At night, walk through your home and close the curtains and curtains. This will prevent cold wind from entering and force your heater to work overtime. This tip will save you up to 10% on heating costs.

Check the fireplace: This tip is like opening a window in winter. you will not! If you leave the fireplace flue open, experts say that 8% of your utility bill may fly up the chimney! After the fire is lighted, inspect the inside of the fireplace to make sure the flue is closed.

LED bulbs: Replace ordinary old bulbs with LED bulbs. According to the US Department of Energy, the energy used by LEDs can be reduced by up to 90%, and the service life is 25 times longer than that of traditional incandescent bulbs.

Moving furniture: Your furniture tends to move over time. Sofas and chairs may be pushed into the vents. Not only will this cause a fire, but it will also prevent heat from entering the rest of your home. Every week or every few weeks, move your furniture a few inches away from the heating vents to allow warm air to flow freely.

Blankets and socks: This tip from an expert may be the simplest, but sometimes we forget. When you feel cold, instead of turning the thermostat up a few degrees, put on a pair of warm socks or sweaters. The more blankets around you, the more likely you are to grab it.

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