Sports fans have grown to represent roughly 219 million Americans aged 12 and older, according to a recent ESPN research and analytics study. For these sports enthusiasts, the home is an ideal place to display their spirit and team pride.

Grilling over the open campfire is a rich tradition. Maybe it’s a combination of how the wood brings out food’s natural flavor and the ambiance of being outdoors. Whether camping with the family, hunting with friends or simply achieving that wood-grilled flavor at home, campfire cooking is delicious and easier than you might think. Here are some ideas and recipes to get you started.

If someone were to ask you who is running for President in 2008, lots of names would pop into your head, but have you heard of Susie Flynn? She has a single issue platform: America needs to offer health insurance to the 9 million children in this country who don’t have it.

Yes, improving insulation and installing programmable thermostats can help reduce home heating costs during the winter. But did you know that keeping rodents, birds and other unwelcome animals out can also help curb heating expenses? Or that it can be significantly cheaper to heat only the areas of a home that you actually use?

For pool owners, achieving optimal water quality can be a time consuming and frustrating process. It usually involves a daily water test, which is accompanied by the use of chemicals to keep the water clean and clear. A better option might be salt chlorination.

Less than 3 percent of the Earth’s water is fresh water and much of that is inaccessible to people. Additionally, at least 36 states anticipate experiencing water shortages by 2013, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. So, if you could easily save water and save money at the same time, why wouldn’t you?

Now more than ever the back yard is the most popular place to retreat. Expect the following outdoor living and lifestyle trends to flourish in 2008.