If you are like me, you would love to invest in solar panels, the newest hybrid car, the top of the line geothermal heating and cooling system. In the long run, these expenditures provide a good return on investment for both a financial portfolio and the environment.

But again, if you are like me, you don't have the large amount of money it would take to tackle such a "green" investment. So how should a regular person protect the environment and have a positive effect on their bottom line?

Donate your green to green. Charitable donations to fund environmental initiatives qualify as a tax write-off.

Go paperless. Contact your banks, credit card companies, utility providers, and investment firms to email bills and statement instead of sending them through snail mail. Paperless billing cuts down on waste, and studies show that it also lessens the threat of identity theft.

Use your credit wisely. Many environmental charities offer affiliate credit cards that, when used, allocate a percentage of each purchase to a charity. So when you use your credit card as you normally do, you are making an investment in a chosen environmental campaign.

Make green investments. There are many "green" mutual funds out there these days that are committed to wind power, sustainable agriculture, and hybrid technologies. And studies show that these funds outperform traditional funds, so it's a win win for both your wallet and the environment.