Posted on 10/01/2007 7:15:21 AM PDT by DogByte6RER
Hollywood sending mixed messages on global warming
By: GARY GENTILE - Associated Press
LOS ANGELES ---- From "green carpets" at awards shows to organic fruit served to actors on sets, Hollywood is going all out to promote itself as being environmentally hip.
But is it all just show?
No amount of public service announcements or celebrities driving hybrid cars can mask the fact that movie and TV production is a gritty industrial operation, consuming enormous amounts of power to feed bright lights, run sophisticated cameras, and feed a cast of thousands.
Studios' back lots host cavernous soundstages that must be air-conditioned to counter the heat produced by decades-old lighting technology. Huge manufacturing facilities consume wood, steel, paint and plastic to build sets that are often torn down and tossed out after filming ends.
The energy guzzling continues on the exhibition side, too, with multiplexes drawing millions of kilowatts to power old-school popcorn makers and clunky film projectors that cash-strapped theater owners are reluctant to replace.
A two-year study released last year by the UCLA concluded that special effects explosions, idling vehicles and diesel generators make the entertainment industry a major Southern California polluter, second only to the oil industry.
Still, financial and public pressures have resulted in many studios expanding their environmental efforts, doing everything from using a biodiesel fuel mixture to run the generators on the set of the Fox show "24" to converting Warner Bros.' enormous set-building facility to solar energy.
"Public consciousness on this issue has changed dramatically," said Kyle Tanger, a principal at Clear Carbon Consulting. "The talent themselves are requesting it from some of the studios. And a lot of these things make economic sense."
Economic benefit can come to studios directly, by switching to more efficient lighting or cooling systems or driving hybrid cars on location, which can save gas. Other projects, such as installing solar power, can take decades to pay off.
But there are other benefits that are harder to quantify. Besides the public relations angle, many performers and other employees want to work with eco-friendly companies, so it also helps in recruiting and retaining employees, Tanger said.
Form and function merged at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards show.
To symbolize its commitment to energy conservation, Fox had wanted to replace the traditional red carpet with a green one.
The tradition-bound Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which gives the awards, politely said "no."
But the carpet that ended up cushioning the heels of such stars as Sally Field and America Ferrera was made from recycled plastic bottles and later cut into pieces and donated to several local schools.
"No doubt some efforts have been window dressing. But I actually think Hollywood is doing far more than people are giving it credit for," said Terry Tamminen, who served as an adviser to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger before starting his own environmental consulting company.
One convenient yet controversial method is the purchase of carbon credits by studios and producers to offset the greenhouse gases from their production activity. The credits attempt to counter such pollution by investing in environmentally friendly projects such as planting trees or funding wind power.
Studios and a growing number of other industries calculate their emissions, then write a check to one of several brokers who funnel the money to projects around the world. The goal is to become carbon neutral by funding activities that reduce an equal amount of emissions.
The 2004 Fox film "The Day After Tomorrow" and last year's Al Gore documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" offset all or some of their pollution. This year's "Evan Almighty," from Universal, donated money to the Conservation Fund to plant 2,000 trees, enough to "zero out" the greenhouse gases produced.
But the practice has come under fire by some who say it is an easy way to avoid the hard work of directly reducing pollution. Others question whether carbon credit payments are actually going to projects that make that much of a difference.
"If you're going to drive around in a big ol' Hummer and then buy carbon offsets to mitigate that, that's like getting drunk on the weekends and throwing some money through the window of an AA meeting and thinking you're doing something," said Ed Begley Jr., who was a poster child for energy conservation long before Al Gore made it trendy.
The Federal Trade Commission, meanwhile, has begun examining claims made by the nascent multimillion-dollar carbon credit industry.
Warner Bros., which bought carbon credits for the 2005 film "Syriana," has also become more aggressive at reducing emissions during all phases of production.
In addition to solar-powered set-building, the studio is recycling sets, using recycled plastic lumber in the construction of some buildings, and printing double-sided scripts where feasible.
Pieces built for the 2001 film "Ocean's 11" now sit in the Santa Monica offices of the National Resources Defense Council. Sets from this year's sequel "Ocean's 13" were donated to decorate the halls of local community colleges.
"You have to start by measuring your own footprint, then reducing it, whether through using alternative fuels, reducing electrical loads or combining trips," said Shelley Billick, vice president of environmental initiatives at Warner Bros. Entertainment. "It's too easy to write a check, pay thousands of dollars and say, 'I'm climate neutral.' "
Last year, Fox parent News Corp. set a goal of being carbon neutral by 2010.
To further that goal, Fox Broadcasting chose its popular "24" series as a case study and to serve as a model for other television productions.
Diesel generators that power the show's lighting were switched to a mixture that uses 5 percent biodiesel fuel. That percentage will be increased in coming years. The show also has secured energy from solar and wind generation from a local utility for its soundstages.
But News Corp. has a more ambitious goal than simply reducing its own carbon emissions.
"We knew from the beginning that if our goal is to make as many carbon reductions in the world as possible, probably the best way we can do that is through our audiences," said Rachel Webber, director of energy initiatives for News Corp.
The company concluded that worldwide, it produced the equivalent of 641,150 tons of carbon dioxide. But a rough estimate revealed that the people who read its newspapers, watch its TV shows and browse its Web sites use about 7 billion tons.
"That's the greatest potential to reduce carbon, but we have to get our own house in order first," Webber said.
To reach the wider audience, Webber and a climate expert from Harvard University met with show writers and executive producers earlier this year to brainstorm on ways to integrate environmental messages into show plots.
But Webber said Fox is not forcing "tacked on" messages into its shows, but rather offering resources should writers choose to address the issue.
"We can't use this in a way that doesn't fit into the show," Webber said. "It can't be Jack Bauer driving in a car he otherwise wouldn't drive in."
Ultimately, any steps Hollywood takes, big or small, to reduce emissions are positive, Begley said. "There are different shades of green."
The hypocrisy of the Hollywood liberal environmentalists is exposed once again...
don’t you know they’re exempt? They’re the beautiful people.
It seems like these Hollywood hypocrites should just start wearing these shirts from MetroSpy.com (go to: http://www.shopmetrospy.com/cgi-bin/cNc/showPage.plx?db=shopmetro&pid=77)
29 Ways To INCREASE Global Warming
The hysteria surrounding global warming is a crock. The idea that human beings are destroying the planet with BBQs and hair spray is stupid and silly...and I refuse to accept this nonsense. Following is a ‘how-to’ guide on enjoying more of the wonderful resources our Earth has to offer.
I encourage readers to stop feeling guilty if they choose NOT to recycle. It’s time to burn those fossil fuels. Get out and drive your SUV...And by all means, leave the farting cows alone!
1. Remove your energy-saver bulbs and go back to normal lights. Your home should emit a soft, warm, comforting glow. Dull gray office lights have no business in a home. Normal lights look so much better than those tacky fluorescents.
2. Rinse your driveway and walkways with water instead of using a blower. A good wash removes stuck on dirt, grass and dead bugs that a blower simply can’t touch. Plus, by hosing down your driveway instead of blowing you can avoid kicking up all of that allergy causing dust and debris.
3. Fart more during the day. The average person produces about a half liter of fart gas per day. If you increase that amount to ¾ of liter you will probably feel less bloated and be a little friendlier to people around you. Fart gas may contain methane which is a greenhouse gas.
4. Set your air conditioner thermostat to whatever temperature you want. Some spring nights you may want to enjoy the cool spring air by sleeping with a window open and leaving the heater on. Haven’t you ever driven at night in a convertible with the top down and the heat on? It’s a great feeling.
5. Use a BBQ smoker at least once a month. There is no better tasting food on this planet than smoked meat. Smoked ribs, smoked ham and even smoked salmon. It’s simply delicious! Some people think clouds of billowing smoke rising out of your backyard will increase global warming.
6. Chop down trees. If you prefer open views and sunshine, a big ugly tree obstructing your landscape can be nuisance. The truth is, some trees are better off turned into firewood. Trees are a100% renewable resource. if we need more, we can plant more.
7. Grab extra packets of ketchup when you visit a fast food joint. By taking lots of extra packs you can be sure you’ll have enough sauce to cover each and every fry. And when you toss the extra stuff you don’t need into the garbage you can deliver more waste to the landfills and cause more packets to be made.
8. Allow the water to run while you brush your teeth. The sound of water running early in the morning can have a calming effect as you prepare for school or work.
9. Stay away from organic foods. Foods grown without pesticides are more prone to parasites and disease. Large factories requiring lots of energy are needed to produce chemical pesticides. More factories could also mean more jobs for people who need them.
10. Be sure to set your dishwasher to ‘heat dry’ rather than ‘air dry’. Get ALL of your dishes dry faster. The heat setting can also reduce the number of spots appearing on the glasses.
11. Drive an SUV. A nice big sport utility vehicle allows you to haul more of your stuff in greater comfort. Why not live life in luxury? Stretch out and relax. You should not have to contort your body and legs around a tiny steering wheel and fit into someone else’s idea of acceptable transportation.
12. Always turn your water heater up to the maximum temperature setting. This way you can use a little less of the hot water in your hot/cold mix to make your shower warm. This also allows you to take longer showers, wash more clothes and enjoy a bath where a tub of water actually reaches the top before it gets too cold.
13. Hold the lever down a little longer when you flush the toilet. Since so many of us are now using these tiny, little, girley-man, 1.6gpf ultra-low flow toilets, holding the lever a bit longer to completely empty the tank will increase the chance everything will actually get down. When you empty the toilet reservoir tank, you force the sewage treatment facility to take more crap and water and spend more energy working to process the stuff before it’s dumped in the ocean.
14. Never use mass transit. What if, on your way home from work, you want to stop and get a pizza? What if you want to take the scenic route as you drive to the office? What if you simply decide at the last minute to ditch work and go to the beach? Public buses and trains deprive you of your ability to do what you want when you want to.
15. Use hot water to wash your clothes. The best way to clean white clothes is with hot water and a little bleach. Cold water simply doesn’t do the job. This is also the method to use if you need to disinfect sheets and towels after having those nasty relatives over for a visit. In most cases, using hot water requires the burning of fossil fuel. Some people think the more we burn fossil fuels, the more we will increase global warming.
16. Wash smaller loads in your wash machine. Washing your clothes more frequently means you’ll have more fashion choices each morning. Plus, by running smaller loads, you can be sure that your clothes are getting as clean as possible.
17. Remove the flow restrictors from your low-flow shower heads. Simply open them up with a screwdriver, punch out the plastic restrictor and once again enjoy the nice, strong shower you deserve.
18. Avoid buying a new car solely for its fuel economy. Cars that get the best gas mileage are almost always the ugliest cars on the road. The truth is, while you may be saving 3 or 4 dollars on a tank of gas, you almost always look like an idiot driving a Kia.
19. Stop recycling your bottles and aluminum cans. The time it takes to separate your recyclables is not worth the hassle. How much do you really make on the deal? A dollar a bag? - or some other ridiculously insignificant amount. Plus, have you ever thought about all of the money your city makes off of recyclables? Don’t you think it’s a little unfair that we have to pay the city to haul away items that they will in turn sell for a profit? Start dumping your recyclables in the trash where they belong.
20. Always accept a free sample. Especially at the grocery store, a tiny, little half cooked sausage or a cheesy cracker may be just what you need to quell those rising hunger pains as you shop. The energy required to slaughter the animal for sausage and fry it up nice and good is the same energy that some people think will increase global warming.
21. Always drive a little over the speed limit. In some states you can get away with driving as much as 15mph over the posted speed limit. Driving a little faster will help you arrive at your destination quicker, giving you more time to do other things.
22. Never reuse old faxes. Have you ever seen people use both sides of the paper in their fax machines? Don’t they realize the other side bleeds through making both sides difficult to read...Never mind trying to figure out which side is the most current. Faxes should be treated like toilet paper. You use one side and throw it out.
23. Trade in your gas BBQ for a charcoal grill. The quick start convenience of a gas grill is great but, you can’t beat the taste of food cooked on an old fashioned charcoal grill. Also, refilling or swapping out your used propane tanks is so much more of a hassle than dumping a bag of coals.
24. Leave your outdoor lights on through the night. One of the best forms of home security is a well lit perimeter. Criminals are attracted to dark spaces and avoid targets that have bright lights. While you may be able to keep the burglars away, some people think the extra lights will increase global warming.
25. Ask for more junk mail. Use a fake name to get on as many mailing lists as possible. There’s a small chance you may actually see something you like. As the ads arrive simply toss the unwanted stuff into the garbage. The more ads you receive the more trees have to be cut down to produce more paper. This too may help add jobs to the economy.
26. Don’t buy recycled copier paper. It’s usually more expensive and it always has that weird grayish hue that never looks quite right. When you avoid recycled paper, you increase the number of trees being turned into pulp and this is a good thing.
27. Double or even triple bag your groceries at the supermarket. Use as many bags as you need to ensure your items don’t burst through the bottom. The goal is to deliver your goods from the market to your pantry in as near perfect condition as possible. What global warming freak is going to pay for your broken Kahlua bottles if the one-bag theory doesn’t hold up?
28. Do not use re-refined oil in your car. Other than it costing more, there is something just not right about putting someone else’s old lube in your hot new ride. When you avoid re-refined oil, you encourage the oil companies to explore, drill and produce more energy.
29. Print online articles and stop reading from your computer screen. This list of ‘29 things’ was written by those mean old conservative Republicans at MetroSpy.com (http://www.metrospy.com/). We want you to know, this list should be printed and read from a sheet of paper. After you’ve read the list, throw that paper in the trash. If you want to read it again, simply print it again! DO NOT READ THIS LIST FROM YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN!!
By following the advice on our list you can learn to enjoy all of the wonderful resources this nice big planet has to offer. On the other hand, if you decide to pursue the hippie-lifestyle and avoid the Earth’s natural resources that’s okay! Others of us are perfectly happy consuming whatever you decide not to use.
Burn more, digg more, eat more! - Enjoy!
ping
Wouldn’t it be easier to just wear a Green Ribbon to the Oscars??
Pray for W and Our Troops
Just who did those applauding idiots think were voting for whites only for all those years? Rednecks? Southerners? Conservatives? Republicans? Nope, it was ultra-uber-far-left, PC Hollywood liberals, that's who.
HUH!!!......They pollute worse than the big bad coal burning power industry?
Senator Vitter Leads Assault On UN's Sea Treaty (LOST could be used as backdoor for Kyoto)
Global Warming on FreeRepublic
The obvious just got more obvious.
I’m just quoting the news story...
Well, here's some ideas on how we can force the great unwashed (ummmm people who read their papers, watch TV go to movies etc.) to cut their carbon footprint.
1. Television: All TV/Cable broadcasts begin no eariler than 6 am and sign off at or before 10 pm. every day. No exceptions. Savings = millions of MW hours per year.
2. Newspapers: Twenty pages max. You can fit everything important into 20 pages. Add 100% Surcharge tax for home delivery to stop those cars from driving through every neighborhood in America every morning. Savings = millions of tons of newsprint and millions of gallons of fuel per year.
3. Movies: End the hidious Ciniplex where thousands of square feet of mostly unused space must be heated and cooled every day. Return to the small, single screen neighborhood theaters of old, with double feature movies to make the trip more energy efficient.
Come on Hollywood. If you are serious (LOL) you will do your part! ;~))
Don't worry, I wasn't flaming your way. I'm just amazed Hollywood pollutes so much.
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