ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

June 13th 2008

Razzi Snap: Rachel Bilson Gets Permission Before Picking Flowers

Filed under: animals, art, buildings and construction, cars-houses, film-tv, television — michael @ 1:03 pm

Actress Rachel Bilson does not just help herself to any plants she sees in the wild. She asks permission first. According to a recent interview, her mother taught her to ask a flower’s permission before picking it. ‘I still do,’ Rachel tells The Metro. ‘I try to be as green as I can. Little things count, like recycling and driving my hybrid car.’ [Read more...]

The Vegan Vixens continue their climb in fame with television appearances on June 16th on Planet Green at 7pm onThe G Word and June 17th on FX’s 30 Days at 10pm. Yummy! 

PETA has published a list of ‘The Top 10 Movies That Make You Go Meatless”. Super Size Me and Babe are definitely on there but Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle is suspiciously absent. [Read more...]

Spanish real estate developers are hilariously suing Greenpeace because of a photo book released by the Spain division showing what what may become of country’s resort communities and seaside parks in 2100 due to climate change. They claim that their property values have dropped 50% in the 6 months following the release of the Photoclima and are seeking $45 million in damages. Good luck with that. [Read more...]

Our own Sarah Shewey (who founded and operates Pink Cloud Events) will be appearing on two episodes of Adrian Grenier’s Alter Eco program for Planet Green. In the episodes, Shewey will introduce the “green entourage” to activist artists and her efforts to made a photo shoot for Spanish Vogue more sustainable. Congrats, Sarah! [Read more...]

June 10th 2008

Razzi Snap: Paul Newman’s Lung Cancer Is Bumming Me Out

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses, donations — michael @ 10:52 am

Sad news that legendary actor and philanthropist Paul Newman has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. The 83-year-old, and former chain-smoker, has been battling the disease for many months. This past weekend, Newman put in a brave appearance at an event for his children’s cancer chartiy, The Hole in the Wall Gang. Ever devout to helping others, Newman’s efforts over the last quarter-century have helped raise more than $200 million for thousands of organizations. We wish him and his family the best during this time. [Read more...]

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have spent more than $140,000 dollars on a new nursery for their twins. Supposedly, a team of three were hired to assemble it all. There’s apparently nothing genuinely green about it, but I just wanted to point it out as further proof that they live in another dimension than the rest of us. [Read more...]

The LA Film Festival is catching the green wave and using biodiesel generators, offsets, and recycling all paper, wood, glass and plastic used during the event. In addition, all catering will be organic and sourced within 150-mile radius of the city. What, no composting? [Read more...]

Marsha Coulthard is the winner of the 2008 HGTV Green Home contest. The 43-year-old will receive the Gold LEED-Certified, 2,000 square-foot home, and a 2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid. As we’ve pointed out in the past — and as others have as well — the massive Yukon Hybrid is such a poor seller, that GM is apparently having to give them away. Go Detroit! [Read more...]

June 5th 2008

Singer M.I.A Buys Schools In Africa With MTV’s Money

Filed under: buildings and construction, donations, green and famous — parrish @ 10:41 am

If you got $100,000 to perform at the MTV Awards after party would you take the money and: A. Buy like 300,000 stamps. B. Get a pimped out hybrid. C. Build two schools in Africa? 

Well if you’re British singer/rapper M.I.A you definitely would go with option C. That’s right folks! M.I.A is following Madonna and Oprah and building two brand news school in Africa with the money she made from one evening of performing. 

M.I.A revealed her plan from the stage at the after party, saying: ”They’re giving me $100,000. Not bad, eh? I’m going to use it to build schools in Liberia. It costs $52,000 to build a school for 1,000.” 

So go run, carpool or take a bus to the nearest record store and buy some of M.I.A’s music so she can build more schools!! 

thanks: starpulse.com

June 2nd 2008

Brad Pitt On Board To Design New Green Hotel In Dubai

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses — michael @ 12:40 pm

“Whilst acting is my career, architecture is my passion.” — Brad Pitt

While most of the world is focused on his growing family, actor Brad Pitt is turning his energies to molding his architectural passions (the actor is said to be a major fan of Frank Lloyd Wright) — especially in light of his successful involvement with the Make It Right NOLA project to rebuild the 9th Ward. 

It was announced today that the 44-year-old star has been named to a team of design consultants for a brand-new environmentally friendly green hotel and resort in Dubai. Development firm developing firm, Zabeel Properties has brought on the Los Angeles-based architecture firm GRAFT to help bring the project to life. Pitt will work with GRAFT to make a sustainable and energy-efficient structure. 

“Selecting this development as my first major construction project has been a simple decision,” Pitt added. “It will underpin not only my values for environmentally-friendly architecture, but also embrace my career in entertainment.” 

To see how fast Dubai is growing, check out the photo after the jump that compares the main strip from 1990 to 2003. 

Jump here for the goods…

May 30th 2008

Will Ugly Betty Become Neighbors With Leonardo DiCaprio?

If you build it, they will come

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses — michael @ 9:16 pm

As expected, Leonardo DiCaprio is bringing ‘em in over at Riverhouse. Let’s hope he gets a commission.

Since his announcement back in April that he had purchased a multi-million dollar condo in the eco-friendly apartment building, the 33-year-old actor has influenced the Hollywood crowd to take a closer look; with Tyra Banks most recently throwing down cash for her own green pad. Now it appears that America Ferrera, star of ABC’s Ugly Betty, is also ready to call Riverhouse home. From OK! Magazine,

“The actress, 24 , is spending her summer hiatus looking for the perfect love nest, and it’s no easy feat! ‘She really loves the eco-friendly building that Leonardo DiCaprio lives in,” a pal close to America tells OK!. “That’s her top choice. She’s very envrionmentally conscious.’”

Last August, Ferrera won a bid of $35,000 for a new Toyota Prius during the Hot For Hollywood variety show to benefit AIDS research. Her character Ugly Betty was also recently spotted on a episode sporting an eco-friendly, recycled bag from Rebagz Tie-Tote.

At this rate, the parties down in Battery Park are going to be legendary. America, let us know if you need help moving in!

May 30th 2008

Celine Dion’s Empty Florida Estate Guzzles 6.5 Million Gallons Of Agua

and you thought your showers were long...

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses, not green — michael @ 8:15 pm

With Florida facing yet another dismal summer to go along with a nearly two-year drought, people are starting to point fingers and raise hell over those not changing their water-wasting ways. On Jupiter Island, Fla., if you’re Celine Dion — and you’re building a $20 million 9,800-square-foot estate — you better believe even more attention will be paid to your activities.

Hence the Palm Beach Post’s recent investigation into Celine’s water consumption — which found that the star’s new home consumed roughly 6.5 million gallons of water last year, almost 100 times more than the average resident. Icing on the cake? She doesn’t even live there yet. It’s still under construction! From the article,

“‘People are pretty much permitted to use as much water as they want. [The district] has allowed people to over-water,’ said the Sierra Club’s Drew Martin. ‘If someone like Celine Dion planted natural plants and used ‘zeroscaping,’ then she probably wouldn’t need to use so much water. … The state’s basically going to run out of water because we do not restrict what people used in the first place.’”

Continue reading why Celine’s home water use isn’t unusual on Jupiter Island…

May 30th 2008

Celebrity Home Designer Builds Green Village

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses, green and famous, television — parrish @ 12:37 pm

When reading the title of this post you might have found yourself wondering who I’m talking aboot, and now you might be wondering why I said “aboot” and not “about.” Well, that’s because we’re taking a trip north to Okotoks, Canada where celebrity home designer, Mike Holmes is planning to build a sustainable community of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly homes.

Mike Holmes is famous for his television show Holmes on Homes where he rescues homeowners from renovations gone bad. Now Mike is getting green and planning a community that boasts such features as: living roofs, grey-water recapture systems, solar-assisted domestic hot water pre-heating technology and radiant floor heating.

While radiant floor heating may not be so needed here in the states, we’re talking Canada people…it’s frickin freezing there! Holmes said: “I want a home that will not burn down, will not blow down, will not fall down under any circumstances, and it’s really not that hard,” he says, adding they also need to be sustainable in every aspect. “We’ve had for years the possibility of building like this. I’m just stunned that we haven’t moved on it.” As am I Mike, as am I.

No details yet on when these homes will be completed, but if you live in Canada, I say pack those mittens and snow boots and get ready to go green.

thanks:canada.com

May 27th 2008

Razzi Snap: Channing Tatum Buys A $2.5m Treehouse

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses, film-tv, food & drink, healthy living, movies — michael @ 8:59 pm

You know those Dirty Dancing rip-offs that you swear you’ll never see after being forced to watch the trailers, but somehow end up watching anyways at 3am on a Saturday? That’s how I know who Channing Tatum is. The star of such flicks as Step Up and Stop-Loss just threw down $2.5 million on some digs in LA described as a “Balinese tree house in paradise.” Sure, it’s probably not as cool as Val Kilmer’s treehouse — but honestly, what is? [Read more...]

Remember when we mentioned that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were buying that organic winery in France for $60-$70m? Yea, well, turns out their only renting it. Cash must be tight — that –or we’re thinking it’s just not big enough for their growing family. [Read more...]

Oprah is worried that Vegas and Vegan won’t mix as she heads to Sin City this week to see Tina Turner and Cher. And she’ll be without her private chef. Oh no! We love you O, but have a hard believing you couldn’t just snap your fingers and turn the Bellagio into an all-vegan, all-organic palace of delicious ecstasy. With non-dairy sprinkles on top. Seriously. [Read more...]

Daryl Hannah’s Shark Swarm movie is so bad, that the LA Times recommends watching it “with a bottle of tequila in hand.” I have GOT to see this movie. You bring the limes. [Read more…

May 27th 2008

Say Bonjour To Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie’s New Organic Winery

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses, food & drink — michael @ 10:53 am

While it’s no secret that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been scoping France for a new home, it’s certainly been quite the ride nailing down the exact location. Back in August, we reported that they were interested in the eco-friendly Chateau Val Joanis, located in the south of France. Then, we jumped continents and played with the rumor that a ranch in Texas was the new hotspot. Turns out we were right the first time, just the wrong chateau. 

Media reports are confirming that the pair have purchased the $60 million Chateau Miraval in the south of France near Aix-en-Provence. Beyond the standard amenities (1,000 acre estate, 35 bedrooms, two swimming pools, two gyms, 20 fountains, a vineyard, a lake and moat), the chateau also prides itself on using nothing but organic elements to grow its grapes. From the website,

“Miraval’s vineyards are partly in the district of Correns, famous for being the first village in France where all farm produce is biologically produced Fanny Croisy, Miraval’s Head of French Sales and Exports, notes that “It took 4 years to become certified organic. No chemicals can be used on the grapes as these can enter the plant and end up in the wine.” Therefore, at Miraval no herbicides, pesticides or fungicides are used, only naturally occurring compounds such as sulfates and copper sulphate.”

So, while the location may have changed, the organic quality is still top notch. But who are we kidding — the realtor would have us at “moat included”. 

May 22nd 2008

Kristen Davis Has A Sexy Solar-Powered Home!

Filed under: buildings and construction, campaigns, cars-houses — michael @ 9:43 pm

My love for Kristin Davis is now a little deeper (right above stalking) after watching this clip from Letterman last night. The Sex and the City actress looked gorgeous and bubbled with cuteness over her new solar-powered home and work with Oxfam America. Pegging herself as someone who makes a lot of money and wants to give back, Davis talked about her new home — and how she can go off-grid at the flip of a switch .

“I’m off the grid. I have a ladder that I climb up and I check my solar panels. They cover the whole roof, in LA, where there’s a lot of sun. And when the sun is shining, you can go and look and your electrical meter and it’s spinning backwards! It’s very exciting — and I have batteries to store the power in, and when the power goes out in LA, which happens a lot, you throw this switch and you’re completely off the grid!”

So, Kristin isn’t really off-gird — she’s more grid-tied — but in the event of a blackout, she can prevent the power from entering the grid and live off her batteries for awhile. Not bad.

The 43-year-old actress also talked about her work with Oxfam America — in particular her fight against poverty and desire to visit every country in Africa.

To view the video from last night and hear more about Kristin’s green passions, click here for both parts…