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Celebrities. We want to hang with them, speak to them, be like them and sometimes even marry them. They sure have an impact in most people’s lives, even when you’re not that aware of their influence. Marketers are alert to this fact and that’s why you see so many celebrity endorsed products. While some of these A-listers seize opportunities to make more money, some want to use their fame to change the world around them.

Away from red carpets and glamorous photo shootings, you can find the genuine side to these icons. Even if glossy magazines choose not to show this side of their personalities, some very famous people do worry about matters of importance like global warming and food scarcity. And some of them not only worry about it, but are prepared to put on the work to help alter things. Do you want to be as green as your stars? So follow the lead and act like a celeb.

Brad Pitt. 150 new green homes are being built thanks to Brad Pitt’s Make it Right Founda- tion. The actor drives hybrid cars and aims for energy independence through green building and sustainable designs. Your goal - in order to copy the steps of this Hollywood star - should be to make home improvements and efficiency upgrades.

George Clooney. No wonder George is a good friend of Brad Pitt. Clooney is a big fan of electric cars and he likes to drive around on his Tango, an electric two-seater that takes 4 sec- onds to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour. He is always available to front causes closely related to climate change. If you think that Clooney’s passion has inspired you, read more about elec- tric cars and consider all the options on offer.

Daryl Hannah. The actress is a driving force for many different causes, raising awareness for an array of eco-crusades. One that speaks close to her heart is sustainably-sourced biodiesel. She is actively engaged with many organizations like Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance and shares concerns with activists trying to drag the world’s attention to the damage done in the Amazon by the oil industry. You can emulate Daryl’s care for the environment by getting smart about alternative fuels to reduce your dependence on fossil fuels.

Matt Damon. Taking a hands on approach to the theme of climate change and how this is af- fecting many lives, Matt Damon centered his work outside the big screens on raising money and visibility on the need for clean drinking water in poor regions of Africa. His H2O Africa Project relies greatly on his name and his passion to make others aware of the immense crisis sweeping through the African continent. You would be gob smacked to know that 80% of all illness and premature death in developing countries is the result of poor or lack of drinking water. You can support these causes with donations and by spreading the word. At home you can also make a conscious decision in how your water is spent and avoid waste.

Edward Norton. The actor is also a leading man in environmental causes. He is part of the green celebs group since 2003, the same year he helped create the BP Solar Neighbors Pro- gram. With this scheme each time a celebrity has a solar electricity system installed in their home, BP donates a system to a low-income family. Norton was the first and he then con- vinced his pals to join: Tom Hanks, Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Daryl Hannah, Robin Williams... The list is long. Consider adding solar panels to your home, but if the cost is too steep for you try to find ways to waste less energy with small but significant steps.