Even though winter is still a few weeks away, the first chilly signs are being felt and a few snowflakes have been spotted in the air. Skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, ice fishing and other winter recreational activities await here in upstate New York.

Unfortunately, the cold temperatures lead to an indoor activity none of us are too fond of - paying the heating and electric bills. When the days are shorter and the temperatures colder the home energy bills can skyrocket. The good news is that there are steps you can take to help lower your costs.

Some of the tips I am including in this column have been detailed in the past. Many are common sense, while others are new. I am hopeful that by utilizing some or all of the tactics you will be able to better manage your energy use and keep winter bills in check.