What is the immediate benefit of "going green"?

I have heard so much discussion about trying to be more environmentally friendly including buying organic, purchasing cars that uses less fossil fuel, drinking tap water instead of bottled water, using more environmentally friendly materials; the list goes on and on. Yet what immediate benefit can one say to convince either oneself or others that "going green" is a good move? Or are the effects going to be long term, if there is any at all, that no one will know until 50 years or 100 years or more? I need help deciphering truth from panic. I want to help what lives in this earth not help destroy, how does one do that?