But being green has definitely gone mainstream, and from celebs like Julia Louis-Dreyfus with her lavish, multi-million dollar solar-powered home, to Pierce Brosnan, aptly named the ‘Best Dressed Environmentalist’ by the Sustainable Style Foundation, the stereotype of the gritty, unkempt nature wanderer that once dominated the category no longer applies.

Recently, MSN posted a list of the ‘Top 14 Green Celebrities,’ which contained some long-time environmental advocates and a few surprising new additions, all echoing a commitment to championing this important cause through various initiatives like Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary film about global warming, the 11th Hour, featuring interviews with green leaders and a companion website where everyone can sign up to take action in their local communities, and George Clooney’s Oil Change, a campaign aimed at ending America’s independence on oil.  

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How it works

In 2006, an estimated $24.4 billion was spent on Internet advertising. (CBS, ZenithMedia) Some of this advertising money is spent placing ads on Internet search engines like Google and Yahoo. Each time we search the web, we see ads that fund the search engines. Advertisers benefit from marketing, search engines earn money, and we get to surf the web. Certain search engines donate their advertising earnings to charity, sometimes to the charity of your choice. All you have to do is to know where to search.

For example, to offset carbon emissions while you search, you can enter "carbon fund" (a carbon offset organization) into the bar on Goodsearch that reads "What do you Goodsearch for?" Now while you search the web, you will be fighting climate change. It’s that simple. I do about 35 searches a day, which adds up to over 22,600 kg (50,000 pounds) of CO2 that I can offset each year by using this search engine combination. Try this in your office or school to make an even bigger impact!

Here are 15 of the top charity search engines.

1. Goodsearch

"GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50-percent of its revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. It’s a simple and compelling concept. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine. Because it’s powered by Yahoo!, you get proven search results."

2. Everyclick

"Everyclick allocates 50% of its gross revenue to charity each month. Each active charity receives a proportion of that sum equivalent to the proportion in which its supporters use the website relative to the supporters of other active charities. The activity of everyclick website users who do not select a specific charity will benefit all active charities on a pro rata basis."

3. Searchgive

"On average, your searches will generate about $0.01 per search and we will send your chosen charity a check when their account reaches $25.00."

4. Ripple

"Our search sponsor pays a small amount to ripple every time you search from the homepage. Ripple passes 100% of this amount directly onto our charities to help them fight poverty."

5. Magic taxi

"MagicTaxi gives 50% of its advertising revenue to charity. Each day we feature a different charity on our homepage. If you prefer you can support just one of our partners, click here to choose your favourite."

6. Seach Kindly

“100% of the advertising revenue generated from this website is donated to charitable organizations that our volunteers select every month.100% of the advertising revenue generated from this website is donated to charitable organizations that our volunteers select every month." Seach Kindly is powered by Google.

7. GoodTree

"GoodTree is a web homepage that supports charities each time you use the GoodTree web search. 50% of advertising revenue is given to charity. Approximately one-half a cent (U.S.) is generated per web search." GoodTree is also a social networking site. It’s search engine is powered by Google, Yahoo! and MSN.

8. CatchTomorrow

"The search engine that helps fund public schools. CatchTomorrow will donate 50% of its gross revenue to American Schools."

9. Lookie

"LOOKLE was created in Melbourne, Australia, in early to mid 2000. Its name being derived from the words ‘Look Learn Engine.’ This system is designed to donate up to 50% of advertising revenue raised to charity and search point values will be adjusted from time to time to meet that target."

10. rectifi

"We donate 92% of our advertising revenue to charity meaning you could be raising money for those in the developing world every time you search the internet." Rectifi is based in the UK.

11. Clicks4Cancer

"When you use Clicks4Cancer.com as your Home Page, these advertiser’s fees will be shared with us and we, in turn, will collect these commissions and donate 70% of all revenue to various charitable cancer foundations and organizations."

12. Charity Café

"We only cover the tiny costs we incur in running the site - so 100% of net funds are split equally between our listed charities." Charity Café is powered by Ask.com.

13. Oblatoo

"Every time you make a search you can see the amount pledged go up by 1p as we bid to raise £1m for charity."

14. The Green Spider

"TheGreenspider is a search engine that saves energy by using a coloured background. The search results are powered by Google. From the profits we make, we intend to invest in several environmental projects. More details to follow."

15. ClicksCount

"Every search carried out on this special Live search charity site makes a direct donation to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)." ClicksCount is a program of MSN in the UK.

References:

14 Charity Search Engines : Searching for Good | searchenginejournal

15 Charity Search Engines that help you give money to charity for free | doshdosh

According to Nielsen ratings, however, the three-hour special on NBC only received 2.7 million viewers and was the least-watched U.S. program on Saturday night. A total of 19 million people watched at least 6 minutes on NBC, CNBC, Telemundo, Sundance Channel, Bravo, MSNBC, and Universal HD. The event also occurred during the July 4th weekend, when most people usually aren't watching TV.

There has been skepticism about the event and its performers as it required many artists to fly to the events, some in private jets, and could have created more CO2 as a result of the concert. Al Gore has defended the cause as a start of a 3-5 year program with a message that reached out to 2 billion people across the world. While some celebrities such as Sting and Cameron Diaz take active participation in helping with the efforts, others may not. Madonna and Black Eyed Peas both performed new songs that they wrote for the event. The goal is that with the help of the celebrities, more people will be aware of the issues and even the celebrities that attended and performed at Live Earth learned a lot about the issues. Whether or not, the concert really made a difference is really hard to judge. What are your thoughts?

Sources:
Newsday.com
Foxnews.com