Do you remember that old children's story where the sun and wind gang up on some poor, unsuspecting guy? The sun tries to get him to take off his coat, then the wind cools him down and makes him put it back on. Back and forth, all day.

For us up here, it looks like the weather has got a new game this year. While we're trying to get all the empty boxes and used gift wrap to the curb, the wind is making us put on more and more layers of sweaters, coats, toques, scarves and whatever else we can find lying around. And the sun is making sure it doesn't get in the way.

Then there's the snowbirds picking just this time of year to fly south to their golf courses in Arizona. They seem to know how to deal with the cold.

But for those of us who can't get the time off to head south to warmer climes, we've got to think of ways to get through the winter in one piece. Of course, everybody who stays around eventually remembers how to deal with winter. And what better way to make it through the cold months than by not only benefiting yourself, but by doing something for the environment.

Staying warm while saving some money on heating bills is one way we can stay positive during the shortest, coldest days of the year.

Energy conservation isn't just a way to stretch your precious dollars. You've go to think about how everything you do effects the environment. It's not just about peeling labels off of tin cans before you put them in the blue box.

Concern for the environment can involve the simplest things -- even the most common, little household tasks. Think about these examples:

Turn down the thermostat when you go to bed. Pull the covers up to your chin. In the morning wear some slippers. You don't have to turn off the heat, but turning it down a few degrees will save you from heating the house when you're not up and around. How about some interesting statistics: if you always keep your thermostat setting down from 22C to 20C, you can save almost 10 per cent on your fuel consumption.

If you're in an older house that doesn't have double- or triple-pane windows, remember the old plastic and weather-stripping tricks. Do you know that up to 25 per cent of your heat loss happens around windows and doors? These simple things are maybe so familiar, we might just forget how easy and effective they are.