Home heating is a high-cost basic necessity. For people with low incomes, the decision to pay the utility bill may mean deciding between being warm in the winter or having well-balanced meals. Other low-income people live in older homes that may not have insulation or efficient heating systems. Weatherization is a long-term response to these problems. A home that has been weatherized can reduce average annual fuel savings per dwelling by up to 13.5 percent, with electricity at 12.2 percent and natural gas at 23.4 percent, making it a cost-effective means to help low-income families with their energy bills. Lasting energy-efficient improvements are installed in the home, resulting in lower utility bills year after year. This reduces the amount of assistance needed to pay higher utility bills in low-income households.