Going green for the good of all.

• Position: Earth Day

"Going green saves money, creates jobs, and supports local communities. Green is the new red, white, and blue," enthuses Alisa Gravitz, executive director of Green America, Washington, D.C. "One thing everyone can do to help the environment on Earth Day and, actually, every day is to direct their money towards greener purchases.

"By green, we mean products that are good for both people and the planet. Shifting purchases to green is often easy to do, and what may also surprise people is that buying green often saves money, which is on the minds of so many households during the recession."

Here are a variety of tips for going green:

Borrow, trade, or buy used. The greenest thing consumers can do is not buy new things at all. You can find books, CDs, and movies (including the latest bestsellers) for free at the local library. People across the country are setting up clothing swaps to give away old clothes and get "new" ones in return. Online services make it easy to find quality used goods locally and nationally.

Grow your own food. When you plant your own garden you can ensure that the food is organic and healthy and, since there is no transportation involved, there are no climate change emissions.

Green your energy at home. Start with energy efficiency: switch your incandescent light bulbs to energy-saving compact fluorescents; air dry your clothes; and unplug toasters, televisions, and small appliances that draw electricity even when they are turned off, or use a smart power strip to cut electricity completely to devices you turn off.

Give your car a break. If one percent of car owners in the U.S. did not drive for one day a week, it...