Try these tips to help you save money this winter:

• Open shades and drapes when the sun is shining to help warm your home. Close them when the sun goes down.

• Close storm windows.

• Turn back the thermostat at night or while you are away from home.

• Wrap your pipes to guard against heat loss and prevent freezing.

• Stop drafts by eliminating gaps between your door and the threshold on the floor by installing weather seals from the hardware store, door draft stoppers, or even rolled up towels.

• Caulk exterior spaces between the windows and walls of your home.

Interested in saving money by making your home more engergy-efficient?

Wondering where prices might be headed?

Thinking about alternative fuels or solar power but don't know where to begin?

The organizations listed here provide information, help finding contractors, and even grants for income-qualified households.

Department of Energy(Prices, Trends):   www.energy.gov 

New York State Weatherization Assistance: 

www.dhcr.state.ny.us/programs/weatherizationassistance

New York Energy Smart Program:   www.getenergysmart.org

American Council for An Energy-Efficient Economy:  www.aceee.org

Bio-Heat Information:  www.bioheatonline.com

Oil Heat America(heating and conservation tips):  www.oilheatamerica.com