the cityhammer blog: Attention Green Renovation Junkies:

Friday, April 11, 2008

Attention Green Renovation Junkies:

The Lorax, the original Green Celebrity

Can't get enough "Green" building and renovation content? Boy, do we have news for you!

On June 4th, say goodbye to the Discovery Home Channel and say hello to Planet Green, "the first—and so far only—24-hour eco-lifestyle television network."

Compared to, say, California, the green building and eco-friendly renovation movement hasn't had as much of an impact in New York State (outside of the new generation of LEED-certified luxury condo and rental buildings in Manhattan and a few "sustainable" pockets of Brooklyn). That may change when Time Warner Cable and Optimum subscribers get a load of the new celebrity-laden, dedicated network for all things green.

So if this sort of thing is your bag, or you're just looking to pick up some tips and learn a bit about how you can make a difference starting with your home, tune in at 6PM on June 4th. Just be careful, there is a Tom Green program somewhere in the schedule, just don't say we didn't warn you!

Not all of the programming will be home improvement-oriented, but because environmental consciousness begins at home, much of it will be. Below are the shows that will address such issues as green architecture, salvaging and recycling, and related innovations in the field of sustainable building:

Greenovate

From the producers of TLC’s popular series Flip That House, comes a new half-hour series that gives an eco-friendly nod to the homeowners who are taking strides to make the world a better place for living. Viewers watch as home improvements ranging from the simple change of a light bulb to the drastic installation of a “living roof” reduce energy bills and carbon footprints while increasing the value of their homes.

Renovation Nation

Hosted by: Steve Thomas

The new green home building movement unfolds in real time as Emmy Award-winning host Steve Thomas takes viewers into the exciting world of green renovations. In this daily series, Steve brings his 20 years of expertise and experience to bear as he visits renovation sites across the country and meets the eco-sensitive homeowners who are making the choice to go green. Steve rolls up his sleeves and works alongside our homeowners and builders as he explores the coolest design trends and finds the latest in eco-friendly materials while demonstrating the most innovative technology in green home building. Viewers can get additional information on subjects covered in Renovation Nation and tips from Steve on PlanetGreen.com. Whether your house is new or old, or your project big or small, Steve shows viewers just how easy it is to go green.

WA$TED!

Hosted by: Annabelle Gurwitch

Annabelle Gurwitch, former host of cult favorite Dinner and a Movie on TBS, proves that American homeowners don’t have to be extreme to be green. WA$TED! takes the average household full of eco-horrors and turns it into a clean, green haven, saving participants serious cash in the process. Every week, the WA$TED! team, led by Annabelle along with “green” handyman Holter Graham, audits a household's waste, and its energy, water, and transportation consumption. Each household has three weeks to reduce its consumption, going on a “green regime” to clean up their act. All improvements in energy efficiency and waste reduction are awarded to the households dollar for dollar for the recognized savings in the three weeks. Planet Green then multiplies those savings by the projected savings for the year per household as a nice cash bonus for all participants. WA$TED!fans can extend their quality time with Annabelle and Holter on PlanetGreen.com, where they will find additional tips, resources and insights from the dynamic green duo.

World's Greenest Homes

Hosted by: Emmanuel Belliveau

From hi-tech super-homes fit for a Hollywood star to experimental eco-dwellings that wouldn’t look out of place in a sci-fi film, this series profiles high concept, one-of-a-kind homes to die for—and every single one of them has top-notch green credentials and an array of mind-blowing eco-innovations. In a dynamic room-by-room tour, host Emmanuel Belliveau explores the interior style and décor as well as the architectural boldness of each building, and also uncovers the incredible green secrets behind each home.

Wrecklamation

Featuring: Jodi Murphy

Wrecklamation is recycling on steroids. Each year, hundreds of thousands of homes are demolished to make way for new construction. These homes have traditionally been bulldozed and trucked to landfills where construction debris accounts for more than 40 percent of all solid waste. Enter Jodi Murphy, demolition auctioneer. In each episode, Jodi auctions off everything inside a home, from doors to cabinets, bricks to bath tubs—often resulting in heated and hilarious bidding wars among customers. The demolition begins with buyers literally ripping their new treasures off the walls. Once the home is destroyed, Wrecklamation follows the materials as they are reborn in new structures while Jodi moves on to her next home auction adventure.