Ed Begley Jr. to Discuss Sustainable Living at Congress of Cities
by Tricia Dwyer-Morgan
 Ed Begley Jr., actor, author, long-time environmental activist and host of “Living with Ed” cable show, will address attendees of the 2009 Congress of Cities and Exposition on sustainability during the Saturday, November 14, morning general session.
For more than 37 years, Begley has practiced living the green life and speaks eloquently of its benefits to individuals and communities.
In a video on the website http://livingwithed.net, Begley explains that even those skeptical of the role of human activity in climate change will find benefits from green action. At a minimum, people will see the benefits of cleaning up the air in heavily populated cities, putting money in their own pocket thanks to the long-term financial benefits of green actions and lessening dependence on foreign oil, he said.
If people’s actions can impact the environment to the negative, they can also impact to the positive, according to Begley.
Turning up at Hollywood events on his bicycle, Begley has been considered an environmental leader in the Hollywood community for many years. He has served as chairman of the Environmental Media Association and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. He still serves on those boards, as well as the Thoreau Institute, the Earth Communications Office, Tree People and Friends of the Earth, among many others.
His work in the environmental community has earned him a number of awards from some of the most prestigious environmental groups in the nation, including the California League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, The Coalition for Clean Air, Heal the Bay and the Santa Monica Baykeeper.
He currently lives near Los Angeles in a self-sufficient home powered by solar energy. His experience living the green life has been translated into a book, "Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life" and a reality television series for HGTV entitled “Living with Ed.”
Inspired by the works of his Academy Award-winning father, Begley became an actor. He first came to audiences’ attention for his portrayal of Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the long-running hit television series, “St. Elsewhere,” for which he received six Emmy nominations. Since then Begley has moved easily between feature, television and theatre projects.
Begley was recently in the hit Seth Rogan/Judd Apatow film, “Pineapple Express,” as well as many Christopher Guest films, including “A Mighty Wind,” “Best In Show” and For Your Consideration.”
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