With home values continuing to decline, credit options contracting and sales in a slump, there's not a lot of good news for homeowners hoping for a huge return on investment for large-scale remodels. But what about smaller, yet significant, upgrades? These ideas will help update your home without breaking your saving's account.

When people think of winterizing their homes, most often their heating bills spring to mind -- along with insulation and weather stripping. But the winter months bring not only high energy bills but also an increased chance of certain kinds of damage to your home and its contents.

While it's still comfortable outside is a great time to winterize your home or business, especially since the U.S. Department of Energy is once again forecasting a huge hike in residential heating bills.

The redecorating bug has bitten you hard, and you want to join the "green" society by making your home stylish but healthy and environmentally friendly.

DIY. So last year. Now it's GIY. As in green-it-yourself. And just like DIY projects, there are plenty of easy GIY weekend home improvement projects that will save energy and money and add value to your home. Oh, and we should mention you can help protect the planet while you're at it.

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.

As the weather cools, homeowners see fall as the year's last chance to do home maintenance to lower heating bills. Of course, you will not save money if you spend more on home improvement than you will save in reduced energy costs. Here are cost-effective ways to winterize your home.