For gorgeous grass next season, start with soil, end with seed Take care of some essential lawn chores this fall and you'll reap the rewards next spring - in the form of a lush, healthy, beautiful lawn. In fall, lawn grasses need to become especially strong as the weather cools. Give them some TLC now, and your lawn will reap the benefits over the winter and into next spring.

Lower your energy costs with an insulated garage door A leaky, un-insulated garage door may not be an obvious culprit in rising monthly utility bills, but it's worth a second look if you have an attached garage. Replacing an older garage door with a new, energy-efficient model can reduce energy loss through the garage door by up to 71 percent. Here's what every homeowner needs to know.

How you can help preserve a 100-year-old treasure In just seven years, the National Park Service will celebrate its 100th anniversary, and while the celebrations are starting out strong, the national parks are beginning to show their age. Threats of funding shortfalls, pollution, climate change, and encroaching development are competing with the parks' natural and historic wonders.

Green cleaning tips that save you money Ready to pack away your beach chair for a cozy nook next to the fireplace? Use autumn's brisk and breezy days to conquer deep-cleaning chores for a clean and comfortable winter home.

Business or leisure, driving or flying - travel safely naturally Weekend getaways, shorter vacations and overnight business trips are great ways to save money and are becoming more prevalent, according to the Bureau of Transportation. Taking a few simple and natural steps to stay safe and healthy while on the road can not only protect your travel investment, but enhance your entire experience.

Breathe easy with simple tips for improving indoor air quality Keeping the air in your home as pollutant free as possible can help reduce asthma and allergy symptoms. Indoor pollutants can make the air inside your home more irritating than outdoor air. Here are a few simple tips for improving indoor air quality.

Must-haves for 'green' moms It's not enough anymore to just teach your kids to look both ways before crossing the street, pick up after themselves and play nicely together. Modern moms need to teach children lessons on how to help preserve the environment for years to come.

Some like it cold: It's not too late to get your fall veggie garden growing If you haven't yet joined the "grow your own vegetables" craze, it's not too late to join in. You can produce a bounty of vitamin-rich veggies from plot (or pot) to plate this fall, plus you'll save a bundle by growing them yourself.

Winter blues in your backyard? Attracting songbirds livens lackluster landscapes The backyard can seem barren and bleak when the leaves fall off the trees and the last blooming plant retires until spring. But there's an easy way to brighten your backyard and fill it with color and song this winter - charm songbirds looking for an easy, reliable food source.

First time homeowners: Clean house naturally with inexpensive improvements The excitement of making a home your own can dim the first time you open a cabinet door or look in the oven to realize not everyone shares the same commitment to good housekeeping. Tidying up your environment doesn't have to be a tough or expensive task. Moving into a new place is a great time to start fresh.

Simple cost-effective tips on winterizing your home Each fall, the temperatures begin to drop and heating bills begin to rise, causing many homeowners to tighten their budgets. What many people do not realize is there are cost-effective ways of preparing a home for the winter, which will save money in the long run.

Repairing a hybrid doesn't have to cost a lot The government backed "Cash for Clunkers" rebate program helped dealers sell off 2009 models, and a wave of new vehicles is coming in anticipation of the federal mandate that cars average 35.5 mpg by 2016. If you haven't updated your vehicle in years, it will be more important than ever to analyze your needs and wants before you buy.

Winterize your windows for long-term payback You may not want to think about it, but winter will be here again before you know it. Of course, winter means heating bills. Wouldn't it be great to take a big chunk out of energy costs not only this winter, but for many to come? In fact, you can save money while the weather is still warm because most of the same things you do to seal your home and save heat in winter can also help reduce cooling costs during the hot months.

Clean, green and affordable laundry Laundry can take its toll -- on your wallet and on the environment. In fact, the average American family does almost seven loads of laundry per week! All that water, detergent, and electricity or gas adds up to a lot of excess, but adding a few simple steps to your laundry routine can significantly reduce your environmental impact and save you money.

Leaf mulching and fertilizer: A back-saving, soil-enriching way to deal with fallen leaves This autumn, why not try working with Mother Nature by mulching fallen leaves instead of raking, bagging and condemning them to a landfill?

Deter 'deer drama' this winter Deer do some of their worst damage to your garden, landscape, trees and shrubs in winter, when other food sources are hard to come by. Here's how to halt the "deer drama" in your backyard this winter.

Green living: Save energy on video games and home electronics In today's economy, consumers are looking to keep costs down and save on bills. Saving money can also save energy. Game consoles and home electronics consume a staggeringly high amount of energy, but there is something that can be done about it.

Vehicles become more eco-friendly With gas prices soaring and the emphasis on preserving the environment, more and more people are becoming eco-friendly. From the influx of hybrid cars, energy-saving appliances and even more efficient light bulbs, Americans are taking notice of the environment and saving money in the process. Here are some trends in transportation that are helping save the environment.

Simple home changes that save big money Many homeowners are cutting back this year in an effort to save cash. But a few simple improvements to make your home more energy efficient can provide enormous return on your investment.

Green your car from top to tires "Green" is in, and everyone's jumping on the environmental bandwagon. But if you don't drive a hybrid, how can you make your car more environmentally friendly? Try looking at where the rubber meets the road: your tires.

Fall into winter and start the bird-feeding frenzy Fall is the traditional beginning of the classic start for the yearlong season of bird feeding. More people feed birds than watch football, baseball or any other sport, or participate in any other outdoor activity. That's right. Bird feeding is in. More than 65 million Americans are doing it, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

4 essential steps to conserve energy through the winter Now that winter has arrived, it's important to take these four steps to improve your home's energy efficiency - they'll save you money and keep you warm, all season long.

The scary waste of 'vampire power' Vampires may be hot right now in the entertainment world, but "vampire power" - the slow, invisible energy drain caused by leaving electric devices plugged in - simply sucks.

American energy security could come from trees You don't have to be an energy expert to realize the challenge ahead if the country is to reach President Obama's goal of reducing 50 percent of America's fossil fuel emissions by 2050. To do that will require several innovative approaches to generating fuel and electricity. One alternative is to use plant or tree materials, also known as biomass, as an energy source.

Reduce home air pollution and save energy Your home may be your castle, but the average household can be responsible for nearly twice the greenhouse gas emissions as the average car, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Here are some simple steps you can take in your home to create a better environment for everyone, both inside and outside.

Skylights: Green lighting and venting alternative for your home Nothing beats Mother Nature's gentle touch for providing comforting natural light and healthful passive ventilation in your home. Modern skylights work with the environment to admit healthful daylight and fresh air, while silently venting stale air.

Have a warmer winter with more money in your wallet What can you do about drafts from the four largest "holes" in your home -- the folding attic stair, the whole house fan, the fireplace and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can quickly, easily and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes.

Save some green while living green during the holidays Many people perceive a high cost associated with a "green" lifestyle. However, this holiday season, you can embrace eco-friendly living while actually saving money.

Labels to look for when seeking sustainable goods From plumbing to produce, companies are doing all they can to make their products greener. But, trying to pick the truly green products from the crowd can be an overwhelming decision for the average consumer. Here's some advice for finding green companies, products and services.

Don't trash that banana peel - composting is an easy, eco-friendly alternative Recycling is certainly not a new concept. In fact, gardeners have been using one form of recycling - composting - for about as long as people have tilled the soil. Composting is a cost-effective, eco-friendly way to give your garden a boost.

A healthy home can add to healthy energy savings We may be riding an economic roller coaster, but one fact is certain: the weather is about to get cooler. And who wouldn't like to save a few bucks on heating bills this winter? Here's some advice on how to save on energy bills.

Homeowners warm up to tax credit for wood- and pellet-fueled heat For warmth and beauty in the home, it's hard to beat the ambience of a real wood-burning stove or fireplace. Homeowners now have another reason to warm up to one - they may qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $1,500.

When going 'green' don't forget the fourth 'R' Are you doing your part in helping to "green" America? We all know the three "R's" that we should be practicing each and every day - reduce, reuse and recycle - but did you know about the fourth "R", which helps you accomplish the other three? This "R" will not only cut down on your individual carbon footprint but will also save you money on your green home improvement projects.

Stylish, sustainable fall interior design ideas When you think of the colors associated with fall, green doesn't necessarily come to mind. Environmentally speaking, however, it should. There's no better time than now to lessen your home's impact on the environment and change the way you decorate and live. So, why not go green this fall? It's not nearly as difficult to become earth-friendly as you might think.

Add life and color to your winter landscape: Attract wild birds to your backyard Feeding wild birds is an easy way to add a splash of color and song to your outdoor living space this winter, plus help the birds thrive through the toughest season for them. Attracting birds to your backyard is as easy as setting out bird feeders filled with quality food.

New Year's resolution: Change the world a forkful at a time Do you have high ambitions for 2010 to get healthier, eat better and, oh yes, change the world, all at the same time? It's actually possible - if you resolve to eat Fair Trade certified foods at every opportunity. By choosing Fair Trade foods, you can help improve the lot of workers in developing countries ... one forkful at a time.

Artificial Christmas trees gaining popularity Simplifying is the name of the game this holiday season. Americans are cutting back on spending, and when they choose to invest, it's in quality products that benefit their wallet, time, health and the environment.

Eco-friendly and money-saving cleaning tips Six states have passed legislation banning the use of phosphates in cleaning products and others are soon to follow. The good news is you don't need harmful or expensive chemical products to keep your home clean. A few eco-friendly and economical items are all you need to make your living spaces sparkle.