It's almost 2008. If you're making the same tired resolutions as the last few years, I have a challenge for you: Make 2008 the year you do more for yourself. I don't mean, 'Do something nice for yourself; you deserve it.' I mean, 'Take the bull by the horns and do some projects yourself instead of hiring someone to do it.'

Just last night, I changed a headlight on my old truck. Believe it or not, I had to remove 14 screws to do so — four screws hold the bulb in place, but 10 secure the grill; and I had to remove the grill to change the bulb. Actually, 12 screws are supposed to hold the grill in place, but I couldn't quite see that last one, so I broke a small plastic bracket in the process. After I had removed the grill, I realized that I'd broken the other bracket (opposite side) last time I changed a bulb. Neither is clearly visible or critical.

The point is that I made the repair myself with an $8-dollar light bulb. My repair job wasn't perfect, but I didn't have to pay $20 in labor either. Sure, you'll make some mistakes along the way, too (and hopefully learn from them). But try something new anyway. In addition to saving money and enjoying personal satisfaction, you might spend less time in front of the TV with a bag of chips. Maybe you'll achieve another resolution in the process.

We've all seen or heard the news of thousands of people across the Midwest and New England struggling without electrical power due to recent winter storms. Many of us have experienced the situation firsthand.

So what can you do to be prepared next time you're caught without electricity? Mother Earth News is publishing an article on choosing the right emergency or backup generator in the February/March 2008 issue. We've already posted this article online because we realize that a lot of people will be looking for advice on selecting the best generator for their particular situation.

The article discusses

• Calculating how much power you need
• Quality of electricity generated
• Fuel options (and keeping fuel fresh)
• Power delivery
• Maintenance
• Safety tips

To read the full Emergency Power Options article, click here.

I've recently seen a few things about recovering the heat from drain water. The devices being promoted are supposed to recover heat that would normally go down the drain and use that energy to preheat cold water going into a water heater. The idea is that it will take less fuel to heat the water and thereby save energy.

I'm interested to know if any of our readers have firsthand experience with this. If so, please share your opinions in the comments section below.

Still have that shag carpet from the '70s? It's time you replaced it with something that's better for your health and better for the environment. A recent article from the GreenGuide to Go, Green Flooring Put to The Test outlines options — including cost per square foot estimates.