HGTV had a good show last night.

[justgamma]

It was called Living with ED. I only saw the last 5 minutes, but they were about Larry Hagman's huge house. He creates so much solar energy that he gives it away to 5 of his neighbors. He also has a solar powered bike. Wish I would have caught it all.
I think the show was actually about Ed Begley.

[NYCGirl]

1. Yeah, it's a series, and it's in the second season. Very good stuff.

http://www.livingwithed.net/

[Kolesar]

4. What do you think of the Greenswitch?

https://www.greenswitch.tv/

How It Works
Upon Leaving the Home
When exiting the home, the last one out simply switches the GreenSwitch™ to the off position.

A wireless signal is sent to all of the GreenSwitch™ slave components (wall plugs, light switches, and thermostat)
Designated light switches and wall plugs will automatically turn off.
The home's Air Conditioning/Heating System is automatically set to the unoccupied mode allowing for more energy efficient operating temperature range (set points). Set points may be programmed by the homeowner.
Upon Returning to the Home
Simply flip the GreenSwitch™ to the on position.

Wall plugs and Air Conditioning/Heating Systems will return to normal modes.
Light switches may be operated manually as needed for continued savings.
The GreenSwitch™ Story
The GreenSwitch™ system was originally developed to control energy consumption in the hospitality/hotel industry.

Because energy is the second largest expense for hotels, GreenSwitch™ technology was an instant success saving 25% to 45% of energy costs. The transition to the consumer market was a logical next step in the evolution of GreenSwitch™. The system is completely wireless and may be retrofitted in an existing home or added during new construction. GreenSwitch™ can even control out buildings and barns over 100 yards away.

[RubyDuby in GA]

2. It is about Ed. This is its second season.

That show never fails to crack me up. His poor wife...

[snappyturtle]

3. Oh I've heard about that and never watched.....have to take a

peek. Thanks.

[melody]

5. That's a great show

I believe Ed is a regular on DU actually, so I'm sure he'll be happy to see this. lol

Ed walks the walk. He was driving an electric car before anyone else was.

[RubyDuby in GA]

8. Did you see the movie that features him? Who Killed the Electric Car?

It's definitely worth a rental fee.

[kestrel91316]

9. I used to see Ed occasionally at the Mrs. Gooch's market in

Studio City, driving his little white electric car. He has that white blond hair you can't miss.

[driver8]

6. That's a great show -- my wife and I watch that show.

The episode where Ed visited Jackson Browne's house was interesting -- Jackson Browne lives completely "off the grid", including water. His house was quite amazing!

[kestrel91316]

10. Off the grid "including water": the water part is easy, lol. It's called

a well. Everybody out in the country has them. They are very amenable to solar pumping, too.

My grandparents in NV had a well on the ranch, with a HAND pump. You know, the red-handled cast iron thing out behind the kitchen, where she put food out for the barn cats.....we used to love going out to fetch her a bucket of water. Back then, there WAS no electricity in the Snake Valley unless you had a generator (they didn't). Grandma lit her house at night with a Coleman lantern hanging over the kitchen table. Heat was from a Franklin stove in the living room that burned wood they cut up in the mountains. Fridge and cook stove were powered by propane. They had an outhouse. This is where my dad grew up (he was born in 1932).

Grandma's ranch went on-grid in 1971 and I'm not so sure it was the right thing, in retrospect.

[driver8]

14. My parents live in the Adirondack mountains -- they just had a new

well drilled. We were just there for a visit and it is amazing how clear and fresh their water is. They used to have a hand pump in the back yard but that was replaced many years ago. Obviously, they also have a septic tank!!

My wife and I are seriously considering going with solar power. We live in Southern California where it is sunny all the time...might as well take advantage of it!

[Wickerman]

7. watched it - good stuff

worth finding the repeat.

[Javaman]

11. Hmmm, nice that he gives away the power...

but can't you see something like this with someone not so nice? sort of an energy fiefdom of the future?

[Ilsa]

12. I saw the one with renovating Ed's wife's pilates studio and Jackson Browne.

I really like the show, and Bill Nye the science guy is Ed's neighbor. I like this show, and I think more residential architects need to tune in.

[Beaverhausen]

13. I just started watching it and really like it

OK, the stuff between him and his wife is a bit silly, but I really enjoy the stuff they do on the show. Seeing Jackson Browne's and Larry Hagman's houses was cool.