Community Corner

'Living With Ed' Future Uncertain

But that doesn't stop Begley Jr. from his Green message.

The environmental reality show Living With Ed that focused on the family of local actor/activist Ed Begley Jr.—faces an uncertain future, according to the star.

The show on Planet Green was both educational and entertaining as Begley and his wife Rachelle strive to live on the planet and leave as little of a carbon footprint as possible. Begley insists he doesn't try to preach that others to the same, but if they are so inclined, he will show them how to do it, for better and worse.

But, the Planet Green network has yet to sign on the couple to a fourth season. The reality show initially started at HGTV and received high praise for its entertainment and educational value, as well as respectable ratings.

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The New York Times critic Ginia Bellafante called the show " a delight, a Green Acres for an era."

"Planet Green is a little lost to a certain extent and we're not sure what we're going to do with the show," Begley told Patch. "They keep saying they want to do it and we're going to do it, but there's not a contract for the fourth year."

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Begley's show is an up-close-and-personal look of how his house in Studio City is as environmentally friendly as possible, and the challenges of living green.

"I see this as sharing information," Begley said about his show and his environmental activism. He's always been a Valley boy, and he's always loved Los Angeles.

"But, it was a smoggy L.A., and I wanted to help figure out how to solve the problem," said Begley, who was inspired by the first Earth Day in 1970 as well as being a Boy Scout for his environmental consciousness.

He became a vegetarian, began composting, bought only biodegradable soaps and detergents and bought an electric Taylor-Dunn car, which had the feel of a golf cart.

He lives in a modest two-bedroom home in Studio City, with his wife Rachelle Carson and their daughter Hayden, and their eco-friendly retrofit 70-plus-year-old house has actually saved them money in water and power bills.

He has a 550-gallon tank that collects rainwater and filtered gray water from his house and uses it for irrigation. His solar panels keep his electric bills down to about $800 a year, even with the great amount of filming that goes on in his house.

"I think that's how I make the most impact, is by explaining how to be environmentally smart, and save money doing it in the process," Begley said.


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