Caulking windows, checking insulation and revamping the exterior paint are on everyone's list of home improvement to-dos. But did you know these seemingly small spruce ups can make a big difference in decreasing utility bills, improving the look and feel of the home and increasing resale value?

Rohm and Haas, a specialty materials company, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, wants to help you improve your house with the $pruce Up Your Home contest. From September 15, 2008, to February 1, 2009, you can enter your home for a chance to win a paint makeover.

A new acrylic-based paint job can help increase the value of your home and add a sense of personal style with color and texture, without breaking the budget. Water-based acrylic technology is also environmentally advanced. This technology has taken 20 million tons of air pollution (in the form of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs) out of the air since 1953 -- the equivalent of six pounds of fewer pollutants in the air for every man, woman and child alive in the world as of July 31, 2008. Rohm and Haas is the company that brought water-based acrylic emulsion technology to the market, transforming the global paint industry throughout the past five decades. In fact, in 2008 the company earned the National Historic Chemical Landmark designation by the American Chemical Society (ACS) for its water-based acrylic emulsion technology. The technology can be found in everything from house and traffic paints and adhesives to dishwashers, baby diapers and on/behind the walls of China's Forbidden City.

Through this nationwide contest, Rohm and Haas wants to help consumers understand that increasing energy savings and improving home values does not require complete renovations or expensive upgrades. Instead, consumers can revamp the look and feel of their houses with simple improvements that are energy efficient and budget-friendly.

In February 2009, 20 finalists will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges. And the winners are up to you! Consumers nationwide will get to vote online for the top nine homes most deserving of a $pruce up.

One Grand Prize winner will receive a $8,000 home improvement gift card and exterior paint job. Eight first place winners will receive a new paint exterior for their home. The nine winning homes will be unveiled on National Arbor Day, April 24, 2009, and each family will receive a young spruce tree on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation. The Arbor Day Foundation will also donate 10,000 trees to the Grand Prize winner's community, in the name of having a positive impact on the environment and the communities in which we live. See Official Rules for details.

Visit the Paint Quality Institute^SM, a go-to source for consumers to learn more about interior and exterior paints and coatings, to check out tips, tricks and trends.

CLICK HERE for more details and to submit your entry today!