It finally feels like winter in Minnesota which has made me think about all the energy upgrades that could be done to our home. Fortunately, there is a program in Minneapolis that helps homeowners streamline energy use in their homes. More

Winter is coming. And so are the drafty winds that can make the inside of your home feel like you're living in a tent. I've lived in my share of old and drafty abodes and in a moment of desperation even resorted to shoving old t-shirts in the inch-wide cracks of my brownstone's double-hung windows. (Not pretty but effective.) If you're interested in a more grown-up method here are some great options for you. More

Specialty: Smart building products based on health, performance and sustainability.

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Austin residents now have an alternative to the larger, more well-known hardware stores: TreeHouse. Built on the principles of providing healthy, sustainable, affordable and long-lasting products for the home, residents with all sorts of projects will be able to find what they need here. More

Most of us who rent can only daydream about bathroom renovations like installing low-flow toilets and bamboo flooring, or swapping out our 80's-style chipped ceramic sink for one that looks like it was plucked from a Zen garden. However, there are lots of ways to make a rental bathroom brighter, greener, and more modern. Here are 10 tips to help move your rental bathroom out of The Flinstones and into The Jetsons. More

We know weatherizing your home is important, and that sealing gaps around windows and doors can save both energy and money. Unfortunately, the options at the hardware store can be a little overwhelming. I wasn't quite sure what to buy a few years back, so I grabbed some clear packing tape I had laying around to seal my windows. Not a pretty sight come spring. This Old House lists the most common weatherstripping options, and where they go: More

As the fall and winter seasons approach, you may be thinking about entertaining or cooking more often in your home. It is always good practice to protect your wood furniture, floor and food surfaces by adding a coat of sealer or wood finish. Below the jump you'll find five finishing products to help ensure that your surfaces are well guarded. More

Caulk. If you're 13 years old (or me), you giggle when you say it unless you emphasize the "L." For the rest of the world, caulk is one of those household items that you don't learn to properly respect until you undergo a sizable home renovation project. Before that, it's just the gooey stuff you put around your bathtub, shower and sink to keep water from leaking out and rotting the walls and floors. But caulk holds far more of our world together than you'd ever guess. More

We know, we know. Just writing those words hurt our hearts. But it's true: the first day of Fall is tomorrow, which means Winter is right around the corner. Now is the time to weatherize your home before the heat is blasting in (and probably escaping out of) your home. Did you know that the amount of heat escaping through cracks in the average house is equivalent to having an open window year round? Inadequate insulation and air leakage are the leading causes of energy waste in homes. Cut down on the chilly drafts, reduce your heating bills, and slash your overall home energy use this winter with the following tips: More

Q: I'm trying to be all eco-friendly and add a shower volume control knob onto my shower head to use less water. However, the directions for installing it call for Teflon tape. I know that tape is used commonly in plumbing, but Teflon is made by DuPont which has a less-than-stellar environmental record. Is there an alternative that doesn't contain toxic chemicals? What did plumbers do before Teflon tape?

Asked by Meghan More

As anyone who's ever tried doing some DIY projects at home, you'll know that a lot of the products that you use improving your home—glues, paints, varnishes—can be somewhat toxic. Are there better alternatives? In some cases, definitely. Read on for more after the jump. More