A committed environmentalist for more than thirty years, Ed Begley, Jr., has always tried to "live simply so others may simply live." Now, as more and more of us are looking for ways to reduce our impact on the planet and live a better, greener life, Ed shares his experiences on what works, what doesn't - and what will save you money!

These are tips for environmentally friendly living that anyone-whether you own or rent, live in a private home or a condo-can try to make a positive change for the environment. From quick fixes to bigger commitments and long-term strategies, Ed will help you make changes in every part of your life.

And if you think living green has to mean compromising on aesthetics or comfort, fear not; Ed's wife, Rachelle, insists on style-with a conscience. In Living Like Ed, his environmentalism and her design savvy combine to create a guide to going green that keeps the chic in eco-chic.

From recycling more materials than you ever thought possible to composting without raising a stink to buying an electric car, Living Like Ed is packed with ideas from obvious to ingenious that will help you live green, live responsibly, live well. Like Ed.

A big environmental bandwagon has been rolling through town lately, and a lot of folks inside and outside of Hollywood have hopped on. And I couldn't be happier! Though sadly it's taken some pretty dire environmental predictions to focus everyone's attention on the harm we are doing to the planet, I believe the message is finally being heard and that more people every day are looking around to see what they can do to live in a more eco-friendly, responsible way. Fortunately, there's a lot that every single one of us can do. In a nutshell, I believe we need to live simply so that others con simply live. And I'm here to show you how.

People who know me as an actor may not realize that I've got another passion that's at least as important to me: the environment. Sometimes, when people see me at a grocery store or at a farmers' market selling my Begley's Best nontoxic cleaning supplies, they're kind of baffled, wondering if I've fallen on hard times. It's surely a surprise, after seeing me on TV or in movies, to find me standing there hawking cleaning products.

Actually, I still work quite regularly as an actor. But I also make time to sell these nontoxic cleaning supplies - and I put my name on them - because I really believe in them. And if you've ever seen my television show, Living with Ed, about how my wife, Rachelle, and our daughter, Hayden, and I live, you know my commitment to living simply, cleanly, and efficiently doesn't stop there.

I got involved with the environment in 1970, the year the first Earth Day was held. I started recycling, composting, and buying biodegradable soaps and detergents, and I bought my first electric car.

In 1990 I bought a little house that had been built in 1936, long before the phrase energy efficiency was common parlance. I thought. "I've been a quote/unquote environmentalist for twenty years now. It's time for me to go a little further." I had a book, 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth. I thought, "Let me try all fifty," figuring maybe half of them would work.

Well, guess what? They all worked. Every last one. Some of the results were subtle, but most were not. I saved energy, and I saved dollars.

It's been nearly forty years since I took those first small steps. And now I'm ready to share what I've learned with you. I'll start with some of the easy things you can do in your home. Some of these changes are simple. They just require you to establish a new habit. Others involve making a purchase, such as drapes or even a new dishwasher. You may want to make a few of the changes or, like I did, try to implement them all. Either way, I promise you the results will be concrete and they will be worth the effort, both to the environment and to your bottom line. And if that's the case, where is the downside, right?

Copyright © 2008 by Ed Begley, Jr.

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About the Author

Ed Begley, Jr. is a veteran actor and a committed environmentalist. He resides in Los Angeles in a self-sufficient home powered by solar energy.