An episode of “90210” is on the TV, and it suddenly goes to commercial. The stars of the show appear in a commercial put on by the CW and begin talking about ways people can be environmentally conscious in their daily lives.These types of public service announcements have become more prevalent in television, as many networks are “going green.”Planet Green, the first 24-hour environmental lifestyle TV network, was launched in 2008 by Discovery Communications.”Working with a broad range of partners, our goal is to find innovative ways to engage people of all ages and backgrounds through content that’s entertaining, relevant and accessible,” said Eileen O’Neill, Planet Green president and general manager in a news release. “Planet Green is about motivating people to take an active role in a new conversation about the future of our planet.”Planet Green offers original green programming like Emeril Green, Planet Earth, Greenovate and Alter Eco and uses celebrities including Ludacris, Tommy Lee, Adrian Grenier and Emeril Lagasse to promote environmentalism.”Our experts will help you navigate the options for detoxifying your home, life, and planet — without the jargon or the guilt trips — so you can start being the change you wish to see in the world,” according to the Planet Green Web site.Other television networks like Fox are promoting being green through PSAs, as well as doing it themselves.”24,” one of Fox’s shows, became the first carbon neutral television production this season, according to News Corp’s global energy initiative Web site.For the seventh season of “24,” the Fox team calculated the emissions associated with the show’s production and took steps to reduce its carbon footprint by 43 percent, according to the Web site.”For the first time, the remainder of the show’s emissions will be offset, making the series completely carbon neutral,” the Web site said.NBC also uses PSAs and green programming to spread the word about being environmentally friendly.NBC launched its first Green Week in 2007, during which it presented more than 150 hours of eco-themed content and continued hosting Green Week in 2008 as well, according to NBC’s Web site.”Here at NBC and NBC.com, we celebrate our talent in the ‘The More You Know’ PSA campaign, presenting green-themed storylines in several of our daytime and primetime shows,” the Web site states.The entire set of NBC’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” is built with eco-friendly materials.”Everything is recycled,” Fallon told the New York Post through treehugger.com, a Web site promoting eco-friendliness.. “We are building everything with recycled metals and using all green lighting. We are starting from scratch so it is NBC’s policy that we make everything from the ground up entirely green.”Cory Vogel, ISDS senior and Organization Liaison for Environmental Conservation Organization at LSU, said the push to be more environmentally friendly on TV is a good thing if the networks are actually being green as well.”Sometimes the media is trying to make their image as a green organization,” Vogel said. “If they are being green, that is fine. It is more substantial if they follow the talk with action.”Caroline Gilchrist, international studies sophomore and secretary for ECO, said the green programming can be beneficial for students in particular.”If you’re watching and really paying attention, it really is helpful,” Gilchrist said. “It’s teaching you stuff you didn’t know before. It’s mostly entertaining, but if you’re watching it, you’ll be in tune with it and it will make you more aware.”Many University students think the green programming is a good thing because it promotes environmental consciousness.”It’s because so many people just sit around watching TV that if they see these shows and PSAs, it may make them more eco-friendly educated,” said Stephanie Walter, business sophomore.
 
 
 
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