TV drama 24 to go carbon neutral

The American TV network Fox has announced that their long-running spy drama 24 is the first carbon neutral production in TV history.

Last Updated: 6:50AM GMT 03 Mar 2009

Kiefer Sutherland, who plays the show's hero Jack Bauer, is due to promote the joys of green living
Fox is following through on a promise made by executives two years ago and are also launching a public service campaign during a two-hour special aired on Monday.
Kiefer Sutherland, who plays the show's hero Jack Bauer, is due to promote the joys of green living and will ask viewers to follow 24's lead in helping to combat global warming.
Over the last few years, the makers of 24 have already cut the show's carbon footprint by 43 per cent. However, in areas where that proved impossible - for example the carbon dioxide emissions released when a car is blown up - producers bought carbon offsets, such as wind-power plans in India.
According to Fox, producers also made on-set upgrades, such as swapping incandescent lighting for compact fluorescent lighting and turning off all electrical equipment when not in use.
"This is a passion project for us at 24, and we're amazed by how much we were able to achieve this past season in terms of conserving energy and reducing carbon emissions," Howard Gordon, the show runner, said.
"But now the really important work begins, which is to inspire our audience to make changes in their own lives."
Other changes on set include using biodiesel to power generators and production vehicles; using renewable power resources (wind, hydroelectric and solar) when purchasing electricity; incorporating fuel-efficient and low-emission hybrid vehicles into the production fleet, which saved 1,300 gallons of gas; and distributing all its scripts, schedules and other memos electronically.
The green impact of 24 is, apparently, the first step in Rupert Murdoch's plans to make News Corporation (Fox's parent company) carbon neutral by 2010.