Actor and activist Edward Norton will be among the judges for the Green Effect competition, which awards $20,000 each to five people or groups that have the best ideas for green change. National Geographic and SunChips are teaming up for the project,which they hope will inspire and generate new green initiatives – with the $20K payout to be used to fund the projects.

The five winners will also be profiled in National Geographic, and the winners will travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with environmental leaders.

Think you have a good idea to help green your community? The contest is open until June 8th and on July 7th, the top 10 finalists will be announced, with online voters deciding one of them. The judges, who include Norton, National Geographic’s Boyd Matson, Jayni Chase (wife of Chevy Chase), CEO of Green for All Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, and Dave Haft, Group Vice President, Sustainability and Productivity, Frito-Lay will choose the remaining four winners.

Edward Norton appeared on the Today Show this morning to push tomorrow’s world-wide switch-off, Earth Hour. For one hour, people will make a statement that something needs to be done about climate change and that it is an issue worthy of world-wide recognition. Thus, millions of people across the globe will turn out their lights to raise awareness.

The purpose for the one-hour switch-off slated for March 28, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time, is to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.

And the cause is gaining momentum. A total of 175 U.S. cities have now pledged to turn off their lights during the hour. National landmarks like the Empire State Building and many of Washington D.C.’s most notable buildings will go dark.

D.C.’s District Environment Director George Hawkins said Earth Hour was “a symbolic but important step in showing the world we’re serious about the climate.”

Actor Edward Norton will appear alongside Alanis Morissette on Larry King Live tonight to promote Earth Hour. Norton is a long-time environmental activist while Morissette recently filmed a PSA promoting Earth Hour.

Earth Hour goes down on March 28th, when for one hour, 2,712 cities, towns and municipalities in 83 countries will switch off in observation of Earth Hour 2009, the world’s first global election between Earth and global warming. The concept is simple: turn your lights off to vote Earth and leave your lights on if you’re rooting for global warming.

Check out King’s interview with Norton and Morissette tonight at 9 p.m. on CNN.