Wood banks emerge as vital source of heat while US gas bills still on the rise

More than 100 firewood banks exist nationwide, and many charities and community groups also give out wood without calling themselves wood banks. Photograph: Peter Tsai Photography/Alamy

Inflation may be going down in the US, dropping to 6.5% from last month’s 7.1%, but the cost of keeping a home warm this winter is still on the rise. The average gas bill will increase by 28% this winter compared to last, according to estimates from the Energy Information Administration.

In some places across the country, people are returning to a surprising source of heat to keep costs down: wood. In areas where wood is more widely available and used for heating – such as forested parts of New England – wood banks are emerging as a vital way to stay warm this winter.