This image of the blond bespectacled actor on his bike is something of a childhood memory for me. I grew up within a mile of Ed Begley Jr. in Los Angeles, and I still get warm fuzzies thinking about how he and I once shared a Studio City zip code. (The fact that Jack Nickelson and Tiffani Amber Thiessen also lived nearby didn’t seem to interest this National Geographic reading, mountain-hiking kid who loved to compost.) When I had the opportunity to catch up with the Hollywood hero last month at the Go Green Expo in New York, I didn’t hesitate to say hello.
It doesn’t matter how many times you hear or read his panoply of pleas about going green, even to republicans, Ed’s got a mouthful worth listening to. Quite simply, and without needing a script, he knows just how to get the serious message across–often by making light out of how to lighten our carbon footprint.
I followed up with the eco-friendly father, husband, and hybrid-trotter over email about his upcoming big project, some easy next steps for greenies, and what Ed Begley Jr.’s climate bill would look like if he knew Congress would pass it.
How can folks who already incorporate “green” acts into their daily lives take the next step to being even more eco-conscious? (Consider both those who live in a small NYC apartment and those who live in a house in the suburbs.)
ED: The way I did it, beginning in 1970, is by picking the low hanging fruit first–the stuff that is cheapest and easiest and gives you the biggest bang for your buck. Walking, riding a bike, taking public transportation, recycling, composting, home gardening or supporting your local farmers market are good ways to start that help you save money right away. Others in this category include energy efficient lighting, low flow showerheads and faucets, power strips to shut down phantom power-draw devices, weather stripping around doors and windows, window coverings. As you do these things and save money, then you can do more. The next level includes things like a rain barrel, a compost tumbler, LED light bulbs etc. Then you can climb the ladder higher with things like an energy efficient water heater or solar hot water. Then towards the top come things like solar electric and hybrid cars. You don’t RUN up Mt. Everest–you climb slowly, get to base camp, get acclimated, then climb higher. Do only what you can afford to do. Be fiscally responsible and do what you can today, save money and then do more.
Read the full interview here: Seeing the World Through Green-Colored Glasses: My Interview with Ed Begley Jr.