by Lori Deschene
Celebrities can do a lot of things the average person can’t, like diaper their children in hundreds and commission paintings of their Chihuahuas made with liquid gold. Some use their money and status for the greater good by going green in a big way—while others over-publicize small efforts to capitalize on the eco-trend.
Regardless of their intentions, rich and famous people inspire action with their choices. Maybe you can’t build a new eco-friendly home (where you’ll park your dozen Boeing jets), but you can install a solar panel, or even just turn your thermostat down a couple degrees.
In this post, we’ll explore the world of celebrity greening, and translate that into real-person options.
Sheryl Crow: Launching an eco-friendly fashion line
What she’s up to: No matter what talent made you famous, you can leverage your fame into a career in fashion. (You don’t even need a talent—case in point, Lauren Conrad from The Hills.) Sheryl’s line, Bootheel Trading Co. by Sheryl Crow, will include jeans, vintage shirts, and vests, all reasonably priced under $65.
What you can do: Green your wardrobe—buy second-hand clothes, make your own pieces out of old items, swap with friends instead of buying new, and look for clothing that doesn’t require dry-cleaning, a process that uses a lot of chemicals. Here’s another great idea: recycle your shoes for athletic courts, as Earth 911 suggests.
At the very least: Use cold water when you do laundry, as it uses less energy, and wear clothes a couple times before washing them.
Will Ferrell: Will be the first to drive BMW’s new hydrogen car
What he’s up to: Will’s part of the Pioneer Program which gifts the luxury sedans to celebrities to raise awareness. (They obviously dropped the ball in recruting me; I have well over 100 friends on MySpace.) BMW’s hydrogen cars, which emit nothing but vapor water, have completed the entire Product Development Process—meaning they’ll soon be available to normal people. Theoretically. Although BMW hasn’t released the price yet, experts suggest it costs nearly $500,000 to make a hydrogen vehicle.
What you can do: Calculate your driving emissions at Terrapass and then offset that by donating to clean energy projects. Also, keep your car as clean as possible by getting regular tune-ups. Having clean air filters will help you pollute less and burn less gas.
At the very least: Green your driving style. Go smooth and steady instead of racing to make a light—which really just gets you to the next light a few seconds sooner. Flooring it for a second produces almost the same volume of C02 as 30 minutes of normal travel.
Brad Pitt: Designed environmentally friendly housing communities in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward
What he’s up to: Brad's always been an architecture buff—don't ask me why I know this—but Angelina inspired him to explore his passion altruistically. In 2007, he partnered with Global Green USA to build 150 green homes in New Orleans’ 9th Ward, the area most affected by Hurricane Katrina. Pitt did a lot of the financial legwork, donating $5 million, creating the $12 million dollar Make It Right project, and getting 9 civic groups and 13 architecture firms to lend their services for free.
What you can do: Support the Sustainable Style Foundation, an international non-profit that provides information, resources, and programs that promote sustainable living and design. You probably won’t get that I’m-Brad-Pitt-and-I’m-saving-the-world warm, fuzzy feeling, but you’ll get a tax write-off out of the deal.
At the very least: Make some eco-friendly changes in your own home. Use low-wattage light bulbs and install motion sensors so you won’t leave lights on unnecessarily. Visit the Home Energy Saver for more ideas.
Pamela Anderson: Building a green hotel
What she’s up to: At the urging of the Dubai royal family, Pam is building an eco-friendly hotel in the Arab city Abu Dhabi. She’d traveled there with the Make a Wish Foundation charity in the past and fell in love with the people—some more than others. Apparently, she’s dating the prince.
What you can do: When making a choice for lodging, consult one of the many online directories that list environmentally-friendly properties. Do this while listening to Prince.
At the very least: Make minor adjustments during your stay—take shorter showers, reuse your towels, tell housekeeping not to change your sheets daily.
posted @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 3:54 PM