Ed Asks: Which Begley Are You?
Cooking a meal at home from local, organic ingredients--instead of increasing your carbon footprint at a restaurant.
Installing a green technology that will improve your life throughout the year, like an air purification system.
On the episode, "Ed's Perfect Birthday," Rachelle and I take different approaches to celebrating my big day: I spend the day cooking at home, while Rachelle has a new air purification system installed. A green meal and a green gift--it's the perfect sustainable start to a new year.
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Living with Ed Episode: Ed's Perfect Birthday
Recipes and Tips for Organic Cooking
Driving a hybrid car--no matter the distance.
Hybrids are fine for short trips, but for longer ones, it's all about flying.
When we get invited to the Sundance Film Festival with only two days notice, I opt to leave immediately and drive my hybrid while Rachelle arrives the next day via plane--giving her carbon footprint a huge boost. Still, both of us offset the emissions of our trip using TerraPass.
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Living with Ed Episode: Sundancing as Fast as I Can
How to Go Green: Carbon Offsets
TerraPass
Decorating and painting (with low-VOC products, of course)
Building and architecture--especially if you're using reclaimed wood.
In the "Two Busy Begleys" episode, Rachelle and I put our respective talents to use on very different projects: she joins her artist friend Janis to help design an eco-friendly spa for mutual friend Renee and tackles some redecorating projects at the Begley home, while I help singer Sophie B. Hawkins finalize plans for a green home of her own.
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Living with Ed Episode: Two Busy Begleys
Buy Green: Interior Paint
Not at all!
Yes--it should match the decor of the house.
For me, green technology is all about function over fashion. When I install a rain barrel in the "Beauty and the Barrel" episode, I chose a sturdy orange version attached to a drain pipe, but Rachelle vetoes the eyesore, even pulling it back into the garage in the middle of the night. In another episode, she wonders why they can't have a more discreet barrel--like neighbor Bill Nye.
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Living with Ed Episode: Beauty and the Barrel
I Spy Bill Nye
Green Glossary: Rain Barrel
Installing artificial turf
Installing a rain barrel
Though she may not like the look of the barrel, Rachelle does like a green lawn. As a compromise, she has artificial turf installed. The recyclable polyethylene green even impresses me, since it doesn't require constant attention--or watering.
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Living with Ed Episode: Sound Advice
Artificial Turf vs. Real Grass: Which is Greener?
Generating power for your morning toast
Enjoying the great outdoors
I start my day early, hopping on my stationary bike to pedal-generate enough power to cook his morning toast. Though in the "Meet the Begleys" episode I only ride for about ten minutes, I still save that much more energy than I would using a toaster oven.
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Living with Ed Episode: Meet the Begleys
The Bicycle That's Bringing Home the Bread
No
Yes
Rachelle wishes the we had a bigger home--with more closet space especially--so she visits an open house in the "Jay and the Big House" episode. But she realizes that I would never approve the move and decides to let go of the idea. Her solar-paneled house is still in our home.
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Living with Ed Episode: Jay and the Big House
Quick Tips for Green Moving
Using recycled materials
Properly disposing of the old materials
Rachelle is excited to have found a way to spruce up our home that even I can get behind: she's planning to replace our current kitchen countertops with a new material made from recycled glass. Though I am pleased with the idea, I'm still a bit worried about what will happen to the old countertops. And when the renovation means living without a kitchen sink, I insist that the family use the bathroom sink instead of the dishwasher.
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Living with Ed Episode: Point-Counter-Point
How to Go Green: Home Renovation
Dresses, tops, and other sustainable clothing
A new desk chair
When our friend and West Wing actor Bradley Whitford stops by to see the green improvements that I've made to the house, he drops off a 100% recycled desk chair for my office as a gift (though of course it's hard for me to say goodbye to the 30-year-old chair I'm already using). Meanwhile, Rachelle falls for the recycled fashion from artist Dianna Cohen, and finds a dress to wear to her next environmental event.
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Living with Ed Episode: Everybody Loves Bradley Whitford
8 Fabulous Green Fashion Projects
No way--do I look like Scrooge?
Definitely--they're just a waste.
I never want to waste energy on Christmas lights--much to Rachelle's dismay--but we find a perfect compromise in solar lights: they charge during the sunny California days, and give the house a festive glow once the sun goes down.
Read More:
Living with Ed Episode: Bruce Butterflies the Begleys
Decorate Your Home with Solar Powered Christmas Lights
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