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HGTV Builds Green House

House Project Part of Bigger Environmental Picture for Cable Net

One of the more obvious arenas for going green is in your own backyard. To that end, Michael Dingley, senior vice president of programming and creative strategy for HGTV, is exploring a number of new and existing series to bring green initiatives home to consumers.

In perhaps the most publicized of these ventures, HGTV is building a 2,300-square-foot, entirely "green" house near Hilton Head, S.C., and will give it away in a national marketing and sweepstakes promotion set for 2008.

Most of HGTV's plans, however, involve small measures viewers can take every day.

"We want to up awareness, to show people what they can do right now to make a difference," Mr. Dingley said. "We know there are different entry points for people who want to be green. It might be as little as changing your light bulbs."

The green reality series "Living With Ed" has been renewed for a zsecond season, Mr. Dingley said, with actor and activist Ed Begley Jr. and his wife, Rachelle Carson, moving into the realm of assisting others, both "celebrities and regular folks, to make their homes more environmentally friendly."

HGTV also is adding green episodes to some of its regular series, such as "Landscape Smart," and plans to add the how-to series "Red Hot and Green," launched from the special of the same name, set to debut in June 2008. "Red Hot and Green" promises to show viewers "how to go green in your home without sacrificing style."

While the network remains committed to raising public awareness, at least some of HGTV's environmental programming remains firmly in the hands of viewers.

"One of the things we want to see is if green is a very long-term trend, or just a fad," Mr. Dingley said. "We're testing the waters for '07 and '08 to see what the appetite is for green, and [to see] if people watch. So far response has been very strong. We think marketing and consumer awareness could ebb and flow, and once we get more of a temperature change on what the consumers want, we might not go so heavy. But we think it's important in our market, and social awareness is a commitment we have."

Comments (1)

tina cole:

been watching carter advertising upcoming show on building a green home. can't wait to enter sweepstakes. been renting the same apartment for 23 years while raising daughter on own and going to college. missed out on the last contest. love the idea of going green and learning ways to do it on a smaller scale. i already walk back and forth to work about 8 miles a day even tho i own a car. anyway love your tv shows and know i can love your web site. peace

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