Winter weather conditions may arrive earlier this year, now is the time to prepare for the cold weather. There are some precautions that students at Colorado State University-Pueblo can take to get ready for winter.

“It is important to check your house to prepare for winter and doing test runs can help avoid problems when you turn the thermostat on for the first time,” said Carmella Salvatore, a 19-year-old freshman studying psychology at CSU-Pueblo.

Energy prices are on the rise across the nation, and as a result, heating costs will consume an increasingly larger portion of a household’s energy budget, according to the International Franchise Association.

“To get ready for winter this year I have been buying new winter attire and checking our heating system to make sure it runs adequately,” said Ben Tekeste, a 23-year-old senior studying computer information systems at CSU-Pueblo.

According to the Consumer Energy Center, preparing now for winter is suggested. Checking your house for leaks, making sure the insulation is sufficient, and checking and testing your home heating systems will help save money this winter.

“I am ready for winter this year and I have been taking out all my winter clothes like my sweaters and jackets which is a majority of my wardrobe anyways,” said Matt Lamunyan, a 21-year-old junior studying athletic training at CSU-Pueblo.

Colorado winters are colder and snowier then New York winters, and winters in New York are known nationwide for being bitter, according to City-Data.com.

“I just hope all the newer foreign exchange students are aware of the winters here in Colorado, because they have been known to be unexpected,” Tekeste said. “Wearing layers is the only thing I can think of to suggest because you can always take clothes off if it gets warmer.”

Preparing vehicles for winter is also very important, according to EHow.com.

Flushing your cars cooling system and replacing the coolant will help the vehicle run better. Replace the windshield wiper blades and use windshield washer fluid because plain water will freeze.

“I decided to get a new spare tire to have just in case because my other tire was old, and I didn’t want to be stuck in the cold without a good spare,” Salvatore said.

Air contracts in colder weather and car tires may become low as the temperature drops. Keeping the gas tank as full as possible to prevent moisture from freezing in the gas lines is a good winter precaution people can take, according to EHow.com.

“An interesting safety measure my dad told me about is to put together an emergency winter kit in your trunk that has a blanket, gloves, ice scraper and a flashlight to make sure you are prepared for the winter season,” Salvatore said.