Green Goes Universal

Sometimes do you feel like you are alone on this journey to tread lighter?

I know I do. Ok, maybe not alone but it feels a bit under-populated. Thus, I was pleased to see that the execs at NBC are pushing some pro-environmental messages. On five of its prime-time shows, they will be threading in 'go greener' ideas in their scripts.

Sustainable practices are happening behind the scenes as well such as removing water bottles in favor of water filters and using chemical-free cleaning products. Some shows are renting hybrid vehicles to transport its actors and crew members as part of the third year of the company's 'Green Is Universal' campaign.

News and information programs will be reporting on environmental issues, plus environmental themes were added to the scripts of many of NBC's hot shows such as “30 Rock”, The Biggest Loser", “The Office", “Heroes", and “Community".

It is good to see many of the topics we discuss week in and week out and act on daily on main stream TV. Things like recycling, buying organic produce and using renewable vs. disposable products.

The US is moving forward to make sustainable practices mainstream. In other countries they are a bit further down the path then we are. In Ireland, for example, the government imposed a 15 cent per bag tax at check out lines. It resulted in a 90% drop in use of plastic bags and brought $10 million the first year, ear marked for environmental initiatives.

As some aim for serious deep energy retrofits (seeking to reduce an existing home's energy usage by 50-90%) and others just begin the journey, we will all be knee deep in it sooner rather than later. The universal green theme will be old school. It will be natural to have super insulation, tight air barriers, humidity controls and careful ventilation to reduce our home's energy usage. Everyone will be renewing, reusing and recycling.

I am looking forward to those times.

Tread Lighter,
-Phyllis, Green Expert