Add Outdoor Space and Save Energy
Adding onto your home adds value, but when economic times are tough, big home improvement projects are often not in the budget. However, there are ways to extend your living space to the outdoors with the added benefit of saving energy for less than the cost of an addition.

Giving Your Home the 'Green' Light
From the cars we drive to the clothes we wear and even the way we decorate our homes, today's consumers have embraced green living not as a trend, but as a long-term way of life. According to a recent survey by Information Resources Inc., a leading provider of retail market intelligence, half of all U.S. consumers consider at least one sustainability factor in selecting consumer products, and it appears green living is taking root at home.

Recycling on the Go for Cool Weather Games
From football games to Oktoberfest, there's still plenty of outdoor fun to be had when the weather turns cooler. Bottles, cans, and other materials from public events are often thrown away, but they present a great opportunity to help the environment through recycling.

Energy Saving Tips for the Home
Looking for ways to save money. A good place to start is by replacing your old kitchen appliances.

Simple Solutions for Saving Hundreds at the (Toilet) Tank
Water conservation is becoming a household necessity due to more states declaring drought emergencies each year. Plus, not only does water conservation help the environment, but it also puts less strain on the pocketbook.

Alternative Energy Demands Generate Hot Career Opportunities
Rising demand for environmentally friendly alternatives for fossil fuels is opening up new career opportunities for professionals in a variety of fields.

Winterizing: Easy Steps to Help Save Money and the Environment
Cold weather is on the horizon, threatening to leak into your home and send a chill up your spine. With skyrocketing energy costs and a global movement to "go green," now's the time to help keep precious energy from going right out the window.

A Fresh Approach to Revitalizing Decor
The "green" movement is top-of-mind for most people, from where they shop to what they eat. But being green isn't just recycling cans and adopting an organic diet. Refresh the idea of being green by repurposing items found in the closet, underneath the bed or piled in the garage no longer being used.

The Added Benefits of Environmentally-friendly Construction
Two of the hallmarks of green building are energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Skylights can improve both, and incentives and rebates are available to help defray the extra costs and keep green building affordable.

Are We there Yet? Rules for Happy Carpools
With gas prices near record highs and traffic congestion making commutes longer, driving alone now costs more than ever, what can you do about it?

How to Protect Your Home from the Sun's Damaging Rays
Being indoors doesn't always guarantee protection from the sun's damaging effects. Here's how to make sure both you and your belongings will stay safe.

Buying Eco-friendly Cabinets Brings Environmental Responsibility Closer to Home
Kitchen experts agree -- cabinets likely will take up about half of the kitchen renovation budget, so it's vital for homeowners wanting to "green" their kitchens to choose a quality cabinet manufacturer with roots in environmental sustainability.

For the Birds: Feed 'em in Fall to Welcome Them Back in Winter
Humans aren't the only ones who look forward to the autumn harvest. Fall brings a bounty of natural foods for our feathered friends, too. But while they're feasting on fall's cornucopia of delicacies, birds are also planning ahead, taking note of yards with bird feeders that can help them weather winter's cold.

School Buses Saving Money by Going Green
To help take money out of the gas tank this fall and put it back into the classroom, school districts across the country are switching to propane-fueled buses as a means of coping with swelling diesel costs--it's better for the environment and for childrens' health.

Want to Relax? Try Pure Lavender Essential Oil
It seems that lavender, or the scent of it, is everywhere - candles, hand lotions, shampoo, bath gel, air freshener, even laundry detergent. It's the most widely used and best-selling essential oil. Here's why lavender is so popular.

Protect Your Home From Rising Energy Costs
With high winter heating bills in the forecast, many homeowners are investing in home improvements that can help save them money by reducing their demand for home heating fuel and their home's overall energy consumption.

A Game Plan for 'Greening' Your Garage
Congratulations - your home is "green." But what about your garage? If your garage is still full of used automotive fluids, pesticides and chemicals, and still sports a drafty old door and little insulation, your garage just isn't as green as it could be.

Green Gardening: Save Time, Money and the Environment
Everyone wants a beautiful landscape but most people feel they lack the time and expertise to cultivate the results they want. With a few simple eco-friendly changes in your fall landscape care, you can get more beautiful results with a limited investment of time and effort.

Nature-friendly Yurts Popular with Green Builders
From the food we eat to the cars we drive, going "green" is a growing trend everywhere you look. And now, it's becoming a driving force in the home improvement industry as well. If you're interested in adding a new structure to your property, there is an option that is both earth-friendly and affordable.

Holiday Decorating With a Green Twist
When it comes to the holidays, nothing says welcome like a well-adorned home exterior. From wreaths to holiday lights to fresh greenery, even the simplest home designs can transform into magical settings with the addition of exterior decorating elements.

Be Eco-Wise with LED Lights
With more and more people concerned about the environment, building and decorating green has never been more popular. One of the easiest ways for homeowners to limit their environmental impact is to consider replacing the lighting inside their home.

Add Warmth to Your Home with Hardwood Floors over Radiant Heat
Hardwood floors add beauty, warmth and lasting value to any home. Combine that beauty and durability with the comfort, decorating freedom and the lower cost benefits of radiant heat, and you have a great combination. Add the overall environmental benefits and it is win-win all around.

Five Easy Ways to Drive Green
It only takes a single car to substantially impact the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average car emits as much as 575 pounds of carbon monoxide into the air each year. Until automakers develop a more environmentally friendly automobile, it's up to each driver to help reduce their car's footprint on the planet.

Passing the Buck . . . and the Doe and the Fawn
After generations of dwelling in close proximity to humans, modern deer aren't afraid of us anymore. Hungry and bold, when winter comes, deer aren't afraid to help themselves to a meal in your back yard. Natural deterrents work best to keep deer away from your landscaping.

Five Ways to Save Money While Improving Your Home's Energy Efficiency
This winter, Americans will face higher utility bills than ever before. Here are some steps you can take to help bring them down.

More Moms Ditch Disposables Diapers for Cloth
Moms now have more cloth diapering options than ever before. Here's what you should know if you're considering joining the eco-friendly movement to cloth diapering.

Six Greener Ways to Stay Warm this Winter
With cool weather on the way you may be wondering just how you'll manage to maintain your eco-friendly habits and stay warm at the same time. While your home, like most in America, will likely rely on fossil fuels for heat for years to come, it's still possible to have a "greener" winter. Here are six simple ways to stay green and warm this winter.

Purr-fectly 'Green' Cat Care Tips
Your cat personifies the graceful, enviable sure-footedness of her species. But what about her eco-footprint? Your can become a "greener" cat owner with these simple steps.

Reuse and Rejoice: Eco-chic Gift Ideas that Give Back
The holidays are a time of celebration, where goodwill is spread and gifts are exchanged with loved ones. As more people go green and give back in all aspects of their lives, it's no surprise that great gifts now embrace this concept. This year, give something different that is sure to make everyone smile. Here are some easy and affordable eco-chic gift ideas.

Skeptical Dads Give Cloth Diapers a Chance
Trial periods with cloth diapers allow new dads a chance to save money and be environmentally friendly.

A Greener Way to Produce Meat
As food prices rise and supply declines around the world, many are seeking healthful, eco-friendly ways to supplement the planet's food supply. Stabilized rice bran is emerging as part of the solution.

Don't Let Uninvited Feathered Visitors 'Fowl' Your Outdoor Fun
Geese can put a major damper on outdoor fun at this time of year, especially for properties near water. Not only do bird droppings make an environment unpleasant, they pose a slip-and-fall hazard, and are a breeding ground for bacteria and disease. Here are tips for non-lethal, effective ways to deter geese.

Cut Flowers: All-natural Stress Busters
Work deadlines, parenting struggles, family time pressures and relationship challenges -- modern life is full of stress. The good news is there is an all-natural, relatively low-cost way to relieve stress and beautify your home at the same time -- cut flowers.

Green Homes Attractive to Buyers
Home buyers are looking for environmentally friendly properties, and in the difficult housing market of today, sellers are looking for new ways to attract buyers. Making a home greener with cleaner air quality may just be the answer to getting bids.

Lackluster Lawn? Four Fast, Simple Steps for Fall Lawn Care
Fall is the time to repair summer-damaged, lackluster lawns and prepare for the winter season. Follow these four fast, simple fall lawn-care steps to promote a greener, better-looking, lush lawn next season.

Eco-friendly Home Decorating Made Easy
Take a look around at some of the products being sold by your favorite retailers today and you'll see that "going green" isn't just a catch phrase anymore; it's a way of living. In fact, there are more environmentally-friendly home-decorating products to choose from than ever before.

A Window to Environmentally Responsible Improvements
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for 44 percent of the average home's total energy use. Replacing old and leaky windows with energy efficient models can bring a significant return on investment when you consider today's high energy prices. Saving energy is good for your wallet and the environment.

Pollution's Impact on an American Icon
Disappearing plant species, endangered wildlife and adverse health effects for humans - all grab headlines whenever talk turns to the impact pollution has on our world. But pollution also affects production of pearls, the gem American pop culture has made an icon of exemplary womanhood.

Visitors Go Online to Help Protect National Parks
From camping to canoeing to cookouts -- summer draws millions of Americans to national parks each year. However, as global warming progresses, visitors may also notice the numerous adverse effects on the parks leaving many people asking: what can be done?

Glam, Gorgeous and Green Entertaining
So you've made the environmentally conscious choice to be green this year ... but with the holidays approaching, how will this decision impact your entertaining? Here are tips to keep in mind, starting with the two rooms your guests are sure to see -- the kitchen and the powder room.

How to Make Your Home Green and Healthy
You can just smell it. You install new carpeting in your home, and the air in your living room takes on a brash, chemical scent. That can't be good. Here are some tips for a green and healthy home.

How To Stop Drafts and Save On Energy Bills
Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding pull-down attic stair, a whole house fan, a fireplace or clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day.

Water Saving Measures Made Easy at Home
Consumers who want to upgrade their homes are looking for new ways to be friendly to the environment. Here are tips to cut back on water waste every time you shower, flush, or wash vegetables.

Composting Fall Leaves Turns Garden Trash into Treasure
Fall is a great time to try your hand at turning this year's yard debris into next year's natural fertilizer.

Change on Climate Begins at Home
By providing homebuyers with green features at lower cost, homebuilders can help to reduce global warming emissions and preserve the environment without placing undue burden on the homeowner. Here are some ideas on how it's being done.

Peppermint Offers Safe, Non-toxic Deterrent to Mice
As the weather turns cooler, mice begin to seek cozier surroundings -- including our homes. Here's how to get rid of them without having to use poison.

Tips for a Clean Oil Change
An estimated 185 million gallons of used motor oil is improperly disposed of each year in the United States -- dumped on the ground, tossed in the trash or poured down storm sewers and drains. An old adage states clearly that oil and water don't mix. When improperly disposed, the oil from a single oil change can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water. Here are some important oil changing tips that can help your engine and drinking water clean.

Redecorate Your Yard and Help Reverse Global Warming
With the growing popularity of green building practices, more companies are incorporating environmental and sustainability policies. These are all positive steps toward reducing the impact of global warming and caring for our earth. But what do you really know about a product you buy that is labeled green? Is it really environmentally friendly, or is it just a marketing scheme? And how much of a difference is it actually making?

Lower Your Utility Bills and Help the Planet
Not only is the price of just about everything going up, experts tell us that the planet is also heating up. However, there are simple steps you can take to lower your utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint at home without making drastic changes to your lifestyle.

Illuminating the Future of Kitchen Lighting: Energy Efficiency
If you're not using the latest generation of energy-efficient bulbs in your kitchen, it's time for a lighting upgrade. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Shopping for Affordable Organic Foods Has Never Been Easier
Providing a family with nutritious, well-balanced meals is hard enough for busy consumers, but in today's changing economy, affordability is also a factor. While it may seem like the cost of everything from gas to groceries is on the rise, the good news is that you can feed your entire family organic and natural foods at a lower cost without having to make an extra trip to a specialty health food store.

Lean and Green Eco-Friendly Bathroom Updates on a Budget
Think you need to be extreme to do some green remodeling and make a lasting impact? Think again! There are small steps you can take to go green on a budget -- and the bathroom is a great place to start.

Small Changes Make Big Impact on Your Home's Air Quality
You're doing your part to improve outdoor air quality. But what about the quality of the air inside your home? You don't need to replace your house's entire HVAC system to improve air quality. Several simple and small steps can help your family breathe easier in your home.