Going green--it really can be cool.

• Position: What's New? - Green Toys

We freely admit to not buying into all of the Earth-is-doomed rhetoric that seems to be front-and-center everywhere these days. Still, we wish the environment no harm and certainly look to purchase--if possible--products that promote worthwhile ecological values. Our personal yardstick is: green values aside, would we have gotten this particular product because, well, we actually like the product itself? When it comes to our kids and the Green Toys line--made from 100% recycled plastic, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing that dreaded carbon footprint--the answer is a resounding yes! (The takeaway bonus being that all Green Toys meet international toy safety standards and contain no BPA, PVC, or phthalates. Moreover, on average, every pound of recycled plastic used to make Green Toys saves enough energy to run a laptop computer for a month or to power a TV for three weeks.)

We started with the Mini Fastback Set because our little guy, like his dad, loves cars--and we don't mean hybrids. These slick autos--in blue, red, yellow, and, of course, green--really move without much of a push, plus they're quite durable because we not only like to race them, but hold demolition derbies.

Now, should any auto (or household) repairs be necessary from all of this action, not to worry since we also...