What can we do to turn things around? What improvements can we make to ensure that our children's children will have safe water to drink, clean air to breathe and enough efficient energy to run their lives?

While experts argue the big issues, there are plenty of folks who, instead of feeling overwhelmed by the problem, are coming up with simple solutions for their home, their block and their neighborhood.

They know that even the smallest differences eventually add up, and they've found answers that fit into their everyday lives. By living a cleaner, greener life, and making thoughtful home energy choices, these people are contributing to a reversal of the earth's declining resources.

If you're one of the folks who thinks outside the box and then recycles it, Sears wants you to share your ideas.

All you need to do is tell us, either in a video or in a text document, what changes you've made that have ended up helping your household become cleaner and greener. Here are the categories:

  • Electricity/Energy
  • Clean air in your home and neighborhood
  • Clean water in your home and neighborhood
  • Recycling
  • Insulation


    • Once you've sent in your ideas, you can connect with the members of our online community. Let's share information that will help point us all in the right direction. After all the energy- and environment-saving ideas have been submitted, Danny Lipford, the home improvement guru for The Early Show, will read and watch them and pick the best in each category. In September, The Early Show will feature the top suggestion in each category and its creator in a Clean & Green segment. The people who provide the top idea in each category will each receive a $3,000 gift card from Sears.

    It will be a win-win situation: We'll get to pool our knowledge about improving the planet, and the people with the most creative solutions will be rewarded with the best home improvements that Sears has to offer.

    So take a look at the way you live your life. You may have already consciously (or unconsciously) made some simple-but-significant changes that affect those around you in a positive way.

    Now your changes can pay off in more ways than one.

    HERE'S WHAT TO DO:
    Once you have an idea, upload your video or text document and submit it below.

    Be sure you read all the submission requirements as well as the official terms and conditions and the release and license agreement. And this is an important note: Neither CBS nor Sears will be responsible for any tax on the award if you're selected. Each recipient will be responsible for any taxes.

    After you've submitted your ideas, please take a few minutes to visit our message boards to trade suggestions with other readers. It's only through communicating that we'll be able to solve our common problems.

    Tune into The Early Show the week of September 24 to watch the videos and hear the ideas that Danny has selected.


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