Hollywood’s Hottest Celebs Go Green for Spring

Losing an hour to daylight savings tends to throw our circadian rhythms for a loop, but here's a clock that'll really keep you up at night: it reveals, on a global scale and to-the-minute-gallons of oil pumped, number of species being lost, acres of forest destroyed, the Earth's temperature...and enough horrifying happenings to plot Rob Zombie's next scream flick.

First he navigated the Writer's Guild strike with aplomb, class and compassion, and now, David Letterman's amping it up a notch as his Worldwide Pants production company partners with EcoMedia, an environmental media company, to produce unscripted, green content for web and TV.

Ed Begley, Jr.

Silly, short-sighted HGTV may have cancelled Ed Begley, Jr. 's "Living With Ed," but we always have...the book -- Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life is packed with eco-advice, including ways to keep it cheap and chic. Read an excerpt and order the book on LivingLikeEd.com. (Not to mention his eco-friendly cleaning products on sale at Whole Foods stores nationwide.)

A big mahalo to Jack Johnson -- the singing surfer dude's April 19-20 Honolulu Kokua Festival proceeds will go to the Kokua Hawai'i Foundation, an eco-education organization started by Johnson and his wife Kim. Funds will support recycling at Oahu schools and cool eco field trips for kids.

Jack Johnson at the Honolulu Kokua Festival

The big show will kick off the U.S. leg of Johnson's green global tour with artists (varying by city) Rogue Wave, Mason Jennings, Neil Halsted, Money Mark, and Culver City Dub Collective featuring Paula Fuga. True to form, Johnson's tour travels with biodiesel vehicles, offers eco-friendly swag and works with venues to reduce waste and offset carbon emissions.

At the center of each Johnson concert is the Village Green, a place where fans can interact with eco nonprofits about local issues and get involved. Virtual fans can hook up at Johnson's All At Once to find out about volunteering and to get free downloads.

Kudos to writer Michael Specter for his "Big Foot" article (The New Yorker, February 25, 2008), exploring the science and ethical choices behind carbon footprints -- like is it greener for New Yorkers to drink wine from Bordeaux (delivered by ship) or California (trucked in)?

Santa Monica, CA, home to many glitterati eco abodes, recently banned all restaurants and take-out joints from using non-recyclable foam and plastic -- all of which ends up as an enormous chunk of beach waste. And really, with all the plastic (of the surgical ilk) already in abundance on SoCal beaches, we can use all the help we can get.

Emeril Lagasse

Casting news: Emeril Lagasse wants YOU for his new cooking show "Emeril Green," launching July on Discovery's Planet Green. "Are you wondering how you can do your part to be eco-friendly while still deep-frying your turkey?" the celeb chef asks. You may have a shot if you are "enthusiastic and fun," have "interesting culinary challenges" and have the right look (applicants must submit pictures).

Dominic Monaghan

Though his relationship with ex-co-star Evangeline Lilly remains, um, lost, Dominic Monaghan made productive use of his time on the island by taking spectacular nature photographs. His exhibit, called "Happy Accidents," is at Hamilton-Selway Fine Art in West Hollywood, and also includes shots of "Lost" costars Matthew Fox, Josh Holloway and Jorge Garcia plus LOTR's Elijah Wood and Sir Ian McKellen. Naturalist Monaghan recently told E!Online that he'll be "presenting, narrating, co writing and producing some nature shows, which will be seen here in the U.S. on one of the top nature-based networks."

Ellen DeGeneres

Dog-doting Ellen DeGeneres recently bought Halo, an all-natural pet care company that sells organic food. The funny lady is also being credited with raising more than $10 million for Katrina victims, $800,000 of that from viewer donations to Brad Pitt's Make It Right campaign. DeGeneres' numerous personal donations include buying a new car for a single mother who lost her home to Katrina and extends to other charities, including AIDs campaigns, children's groups and animal shelters.

High-five Hollywood for getting down with its green self.

Photos Wireimage.com