Detroit Evening Report: Study finds Michigan cities have above average winter heating bills in the nation
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After a mild December, temperatures are starting to drop in metro Detroit. As the heat goes up, Michigan residents find themselves paying some highest heating bills in the country, according to a recent study.
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Referral website HVAC Gnome surveyed over 500 cities across the U.S. — with 14 Michigan communities making the list, including Detroit. Criteria in the survey used included gas prices, average monthly utility bills, periods of extreme cold, the average size of homes, local energy-efficiency metrics, and the percentage of homes built prior to 2000.
Michigan cities on HVAC Gnomes’ 2023 study:
- 4th: Flint
- 10th: Detroit
- 20th: Dearborn
- 22nd: Southfield
- 32nd: Lansing
- 33rd: Warren
- 34th: Sterling Heights
- 66th: Farmington
- 75th: Wyoming
- 85th: Livonia
- 89th: Rochester
- 107th: Grand Rapids
- 109th: Troy
- 142nd: Ann Arbor
One reason for the increase in energy costs is the age of some homes since older structures aren’t as well-insulated as their newer counterparts.
Solutions to lower heating bills include the use of energy efficient appliances and a smart thermostat that can be programmed to be set at lower temperatures when residents aren’t home.
Other headlines for Jan. 4, 2024:
- Outages hit updated FAFSA website, frustrating scholarship applicants
- Movie theaters across metro Detroit to host viewing parties of Michigan-Washington national title game
- The Whitney mansion is bringing back Sunday brunch buffet
- Robert C. Valade Park hosting Fire and Ice Festival along Detroit’s East Riverfront
Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.
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