People often look to celebrities, good or bad, for examples to pattern their own lives after. Movie stars, TV actors, and rockers often have huge followings, fans who copy the way they dress, the cars they drive, and even the causes they support. There are quite a few celebrities who have used their visibility to support good causes, like going green. Here are a few celebrities who are trying to make a difference.

Ed Begley, Jr.

Ed Begley, Jr. might be the most famous and visible stars with a dedication to going green. He has been a huge advocate of alternative energy sources, and is probably best known for his documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” which follows his adventures in owning, and losing, one of the first all-electric vehicles. Check out his favorite causes at edbegley.com/environment.

Dave Matthews Band

Not one individual, but a large band that is dedicated to keeping their tours green. They use buses that run on biodiesel, a renewable resource, and purchase carbon credits to offset the fossil fuels they do burn driving from gig to gig. DMB fans will also find that the band sponsors carpooling to their shows, to cut down on the gas used to see them. To accomplish all these goals, Dave Matthews Band partnered with Reverb.org, a group that helps musicians and fans alike live a more sustainable life.

Pierce Brosnan

This Hollywood hunk, best known as a recent James Bond, is dedicated to supporting the environment, particularly marine mammals and ecosystems. He and his wife, Keely Shaye, promote these causes on their website, piercebrosnan.com, and also lend publicity and funds to California Coastal Protection Network, Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, and more.

Daryl Hannah

Daryl Hannah has been eye candy for years, but doesn’t rest solely on her looks and fame to support causes. Ms. Hannah was actually arrested in 2006 during a sit-in to save a LA community garden. She also supports environmental causes in more a conventional manner – her home is completely off-grid, and she purchases carbon credits for any travel. To find more information about Daryl Hannah and her causes, visit dhlovelife.com.

Rachael McAdams

Is an up-and-coming starlet with a real passion for living a green, sustainable life. She has reported on her website and on talk-show appearances that she tries to bike wherever possible. Her personal website, greenissexy.org, educates readers about how live a greener life and causes that McAdams herself supports. The website is very approachable – McAdams’ posts are down-to-earth, and she doesn’t rely on her celebrity to influence people, she tries to give advice from a friend to a friend, with suggestions that anyone can follow.

Gwyneth Paltrow

This A-List celebrity has often been denigrated for her holier-than-though attitude, but no one can deny that she puts her money where her mouth is. Her website, GOOP.com (don’t ask what it stands for), began as a weekly newsletter that gave advice about living green and eating healthy. Her website, while it does feature some luxuries that aren’t exactly sustainable, does have good advice about how to thrive without consuming and living holistically. Gwyneth and her website have started garnering more attention for their dedication to eco-friendly living.

Brad Pitt

Mr. Angelina Jolie and their six children make the headlines every day, from movie releases to simply running to catch a plane. What the gossip rags tend to overlook though, is this couple’s real dedication to making the world a better place. Brad Pitt himself has a website, makeitrightnola.org, which provides sustainable housing to people whose lives have been torn apart by natural disasters – most notably the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Jolie-Pitt Foundation has also provided million of dollars charities dedicated to protecting human rights.

Do you know any other celebrities that have gone green? Please share.