The Emmys are turning the red carpet green.
Partnering with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Fox reports that they are taking a number of steps with this year's Primetime Emmy Awards to reduce the event's carbon footprint.
One of the most noticeable features is the red carpet. The carpet, which was made locally in Los Angeles at the world's only LEED-certified carpet factory, contains 50 percent recycled materials, according to a Fox press release.
The red carpet's designer, Brian Worley of YourBASH, told The Huffington Post that with so many people watching the Emmys, it's a "great platform to educate people" about reducing our impact on the environment. This year's green efforts show "you can throw really elegant events like the Emmys and still be green," he added.
In addition to the red carpet, power for the award show's energy-efficient LED and fluorescent lights will be provided by over 250 locally manufactured solar panels that are also connected to Los Angeles' power grid. The lights themselves will use "only approximately 20% of the power traditionally used for red carpet arrivals," according to Fox.
The event's carpet and solar panels will also be donated to Habitat for Humanity and the Ronald McDonald House for use in Los Angeles area homes. Once installed in homes, the solar panels are "expected to mitigate an average of approximately 90,000 pounds (or 45 tons) of CO2 each year," says Fox.
As Mother Nature Network writes, "Reduce, reuse, recycle will be in full effect for the three-hour award show." A number of smaller touches help to further improve the event's eco-friendliness. Biodegradable waste, from locally-sourced food, will be composted, and bottles and other trash will be sorted for recycling. The event will also be decorated with rented and reusable live plants with no cut flowers or plants.
When asked if making this one show green could really make a difference, given the amount of waste that the entertainment industry produces each year, Worley said, "anything to help the environment is good, and better than not doing anything ... If you can touch one person, you can make a difference."
This year's Emmys aren't Hollywood's first efforts at going green. Earlier this year, Disney's "Cars 2" entertained families while showing that "Big oil is the bad guy," and many award-winning celebrities have also taken up important green causes.
Watch the Emmys with host Jane Lynch live on Fox at 8pm ET this Sunday.
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