Today Fox announced that the hit TV series "24" is the first series to go "carbon-neutral." Here's what I have to say: eh?
According to Fox, the series accomplished this neutrality in the follow ways:
- Replacing incandescent with compact fluorescent lighting.
- Paying the higher fees that help California utilities buy wind and solar power.
- Encouraging staff to turn off all electrical equipment when not in use.
- Using hybrid vehicles.
- Sending scripts, schedules, etc. electronically.
- Using 20 percent biodiesel fuel in trucks and generators.
- Installing motion detectors in bathrooms and kitchens.
- Blowing up less stuff.
All right, all right, they aren't blowing up less stuff. Rather, they are buying carbon offsets to pay for all the things they can't account for otherwise. And therein lies the problem.
Carbon offsets have been questioned as a way to really, really reach carbon neutrality. The effectiveness of them has never been proven. Additionally, did they add up all the carbon emitted when the cars they blew up were created? And other such items? Doubtful.
But it's worth a try, isn't it? It's something. And also starting today Fox will begin broadcasting PSAs in which the stars of "24" encourage viewers to reduce their own CO2 emissions.
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