A new cable network called Planet Green is starting to be rolled out across the US. Planet Green is the first 24-hour "eco-lifestyle" television network with a robust online presence and community. Chances are you already have the new channel but didn't even realize it. Just visit the Planet Green channel finder to see if your local provider is carrying it.

I was fortunate enough to watch a couple hours of the programming and thought I would give my 2 cents on some of the shows.

Renovation Nation - "The green home building movement is unfolding in real time on each hour-long, information-packed episode of Renovation Nation, which answers the burning questions that every homeowner in America has about going green."

Of the three shows I saw this one as probably the most informative. Most of the green ideas in this show are for people renovating a home or about to build a new home, which is a lot of people in America (regardless of the sub-prime mortgage junk). I give it a B.

Living With Ed - "Ed Begley, Jr. is a celebrated American actor and a dedicated family man, but he's especially proud of being a renowned environmentalist. A show with humor and heart, Living with Ed delves into the real life of a die hard activist who puts his green where his home is."

Living With Ed is a prime time reality show with an eco twist. If your into green living but your significant other isn’t, this show might have something for the both of you (it might even save your marriage, probably not, it's just a television show after all). I give Living With Ed a B+.

Wasted - "This eye-opening half-hour reality series makes shrinking your ecological footprint appealing and virtually effortless. What's an ecological footprint? It's a way of describing the scope of the damage that each household does to the planet. Annabelle Gurwitch and her charming co-host Holter Graham are out..."

I wish this show featured my house. Each house gets a lump sum of cash based on how much energy they can conserve in a 1 month period. I give Wasted a B.

Because the network is so new there are lots of repeats; I would say that 22 hours out of 24 hours of broadcasting are repeats. But with big names like Emeril Lagasse and Ed Begley the network is bound to be successful.

Pura vida,
Matt