Green shopping can save you money.

These days, you don't have to look very far to find a headline, ad campaign, or Web site promoting the latest environmentally friendly product line. From Wal-Mart to the Ford Motor Company, some of the largest companies have discovered that the green movement can put green in their coffers. Indeed, "green" has become a multibillion-dollar business as environmental awareness goes mainstream.

For all the hype out there, it can be tough to figure out what "green" really means. In the simplest terms, green products don't pollute when being manufactured, conserve energy and water when being used, contain few or no potentially harmful chemicals, and can easily be recycled. But simply being green isn't enough in today's rough-and-tumble marketplace. Conscientious consumers also want to be environmentally responsible without too many sacrifices. The good news: Our exhaustive product tests across a wide range of categories show that being green doesn't mean having to scrimp on performance.

Here's our expert advice on how to choose the most planet-friendly products for your home that also perform well and help you put more green in your pocket.

Appliances and fixtures

Altogether, appliances use up about 20 percent of your household energy. But because many modern appliances are more energy-efficient than their older counterparts, it can sometimes make sense to replace those old dinosaurs.

REFRIGERATORS

Look for the stingiest model. Refrigerators consume more energy than any major kitchen appliance, though today's models are much more efficient than older ones. Those that are Energy Star-qualified use 15 percent less energy than current federal standards. What's more, they're about 40 percent more efficient than conventional models built before 2001, and 50 percent more efficient than those built before 1993. Over their lifetime, new refrigerators will generally save enough energy to offset their purchase price. You can compare energy-efficiency among models tested within categories with CONSUMER REPORTS Ratings listed in this book.