US TV Environmentalist Ed Begley Jnr Explains How He Became An Eco Warrior

by Gary
(UK)

Famous US TV environmentalist Ed Begley Jnr - star of hit show 'Living With Ed' - has been involved in green issues such as solar energy and wind power for 4 decades now. From way back in the 70's to the present day, Ed has been a staunch environmentalist. But how did it all start for him?

"It was several things," explains Ed. "It was the first Earth Day in April 1970, and I wanted to get involved. I had grown up in smoggy Los Angeles and had really had it with the horrible, choking smog."

"My father Ed Begley Sr. a wonderful actor had just passed away and I wanted to do something to honor him. Even though we didn’t call him one, he was an environmentalist."

"He was the son of Irish immigrants and a ‘conservative that liked to conserve’. He had lived through the great depression and had saved string and tin foil and turned out the lights and did those things you did back then to save money. He had always told me “Eddie, don’t tell people what you are going to do, show them by doing it.”

"And so, to honor him, and to get involved with Earth Day and to try and do something about the horrible smog problem in L.A., I started taking public transportation, riding my bike, walking, recycling, composting, using biodegradable soaps and detergents, eating a vegetarian diet and so on. I even bought an electric car."

And as Ed explains, although 'green living' seems to be the fashionable thing these days, it wasn't always the case.

"There were some people who thought I was odd," Ed jokes. "But there were also some people that got it. I think there was actually more pushback in the late 80s and 90s than when I first started this stuff in the 1970s. However, over the last 3 or 4 years, particularly since I’ve been so ‘out-there’ doing this stuff with the TV series Living With Ed, I’ve seen big changes. People really get it now. They get the connection between their actions and saving money. They get the connection between their actions and pollution."

"Whether they agree on global climate change or not, they find common ground with their feelings about high gas prices, reducing our dependency on Mid-East oil and trying to save money. People are really getting on board now."

Especially celebrities. In recent years, many high profile stars have jumped aboard the green bandwagon and rather than be cynical, Ed believes this can only be a good development.

"Everyone has to take their own path and do what they think is most important for them. For me, it’s leading by example."

"I’m not one to preach, but if people see what I’m doing and want to learn more, I’m glad to help in any way I can. The TV show has been a good vehicle for that. People get to see how I live and how my wife and I compromise on things. It’s real, and I think it’s helping people find what works for them."

"Others are better at standing up and being a mouthpiece for change. That’s fine too. There are celebrities that are much greener than I am – Jackson Brown, Daryl Hannah and others. They are my role models," says Ed modestly.

But with the recession hitting hard and governments around the world scaling back their initiatives for renewables such as solar energy, many households just can't afford to 'go green' because environmentally friendly products usually cost more than traditional ones. But Ed urges people to do what they can, however small.

"People who watch my show regularly or read my books know that none of this came easy to me either," says Ed."I was a struggling actor in the early 1970s making very little money. I did what I could afford to do on the cheap and as I saved money, I did more."

"I started this stuff in 1970 and didn’t get solar hot water until 1985 and solar power until 1990 – 20 full years after I started on this path."

So if there were just three things Ed would suggest to help save energy and start on the path to green living, what would they be?

Ed answers, "I always encourage everyone to pick the low hanging fruit first. Energy saving lightbulbs, programmable thermostat, weather stripping, home gardening, home composting, recycling, public transportation, bike riding – all cheap and easy things that can get you started to saving money from day one! I think that’s more than 3 isn’t it…?"