It might force a switch back to bio based fuel sources (aka trees in some form) and actual work to increase insulation in the multitude of places that currently go ‘meh’.
Also a return of the proper coat as casual indoor wear?
Heating a whole free-standing house to comfort in long sleeve t-shirts and jeans (68F/20C) in a cold climate is a luxury that’s only a few decades old, especially taking into account how much average houses in the US and Canada have grown over the past century. Open floor plans are also a modern extravagance in cold climates.
Before that: smaller houses, closed off rooms, wearing sweaters inside all winter, sitting around a fireplace/stove most of the evening, and using thick down comforters half the year (if you could afford one).
The ‘beauty’ of hyper expensive fuel is most will happily do that over the alternative - going bankrupt and/or freezing to death.
And those cabins were always a minority over folks in the cities. Being able to afford to hire someone to bring wood or coal is different from just going outside and chopping down whatever looks ready. (Though really you need to season it, and that takes time)
It certainly isn’t everyone that is so poor that it is a concern, but Dickens used the theme for a reason.
Before that: smaller houses, closed off rooms, wearing sweaters inside all winter, sitting around a fireplace/stove most of the evening, and using thick down comforters half the year (if you could afford one).