Modern Family kicked HBO off their Emmy pedestal; Jane Lynch announced her gay agenda (“check with Rachel Maddow about court time, take pick-up truck in for an oil change. Never mind, I’ll do it myself.”) and behind the scenes, the Emmy Awards gave a prize to the environment as they chose to go green this year.
And we’re not talking the fashion on the red carpet (although critics may still be debating the merits of Olivia Munn’s strikingly green dress), rather the dedication of the Academy of Arts & Sciences to reduce the event’s carbon footprint.
Green components of last night’s 2011 Emmys include:
The Red Carpet Itself – Made locally in the world’s only LEED-certified carpet factory, the carpet contained 50% recycled materials.
Solar-powered – Giving the electricity grid a break on the big night, 250 locally manufactured solar panels fueled the energy-efficient LED and fluorescent lights used for the awards show. According to FOX (producers of the show), the lights themselves used “only approximately 20% of the power traditionally used for red carpet arrivals.”
Sharing the Green – Now that the show is over, the solar panels will be donated to Habitat for Humanity and the Ronald McDonald House for use in Los Angeles area homes. Once installed, the solar panels are expected to offset approximately 45 tons of carbon dioxide yearly!
The Gift of Green – GBK, a luxury lifestyle gift lounge and special events company, along with TicTac mints honored the commitment to green by including handcrafted gifts from local artisans, custom branded solar universal phone chargers from BLENDR and a $1000 gift card to EcofirstArt.com for purchase of eco-friendly products.
Fake is Great – And we’re not talking plastic surgery here! Rather than bunches of fresh-cut flowers that would only be thrown away after last night’s event, the awards show was decorated with rented and reusable live plants.
The Smallest Details – Away from the red carpet, other eco-friendly touches were in place. Locally-sourced food was served, composting procedures were in place and bottles and other trash are being recycled.
If only more stars had taken the time to wear green fabrics, such as organic bamboo clothing, to showcase their dedication to the environment!
Even so, many of the organizers are thrilled with what they hope will be the start of an eco-friendly trend for awards shows. Says Brian Worley, the red carpet designer, “This year’s green efforts show you can throw really elegant events like the Emmys and still be green.”
Given the amount of waste produced by the entertainment industry each year (whether it’s a bad show or a ton of garbage), Worley added, “anything to help the environment is good, and better than not doing anything … If you can touch one person, you can make a difference.”
For more on eco-friendly living, visit Green Earth News’ Green Is Grand section!
