Fans of 24 know that if there’s one person that can stop climate change, it ain’t Al Gore. It’s Jack Bauer.
If you are not familiar with Jack, here are some of his qualifications from the site Random Jack Bauer Facts:
- There are two hands that can beat a royal flush. Jack Bauer’s right hand and Jack Bauer’s left hand.
- Most people would need months to recover from 20 months of Chinese interrogation. Jack Bauer needs a shower, a shave and a change of clothes.
- The city of Los Angeles once named a street after Jack Bauer in gratitude for his saving the city several times. They had to rename it after people kept dying when they tried to cross the street. No one crosses Jack Bauer and lives.
- If Jack Bauer had been a Spartan the movie would have been called “1”.
- Some people see the glass as half full. Others see it as half empty. Jack Bauer see the glass as a deadly weapon.
Yup, Jack is one tough son-of-a-gun, and he and the producers of 24 have pledged to fight climate change and take the following steps to reduce their carbon footprint:
Beginning with production on Season 7, “24” intends to implement the following carbon emission reduction techniques and important initiatives:
Introducing the use of biodiesel fuels to power generators and production vehicles;
Previously, the show powered its electric generators and large transportation vehicles with diesel fuel. This season, the show intends to use a combination of petroleum diesel and biodiesel (a clean-burning alternative fuel produced from renewable resources), which should result in emission reductions ranging from 5% on the vehicles to as much as 100% on the generators.
Running all on-stage production activities on “green power”;
Through the L.A. Department of Water and Power, the show will purchase all of its energy from renewable power sources (such as wind, water and solar). As a result, this “green energy” will be brought into the Los Angeles power grid from outlying areas, thereby reducing overall emissions and pollution in greater Los Angeles.
Rewiring an entire stage to use electric, rather than diesel-generated, power;
Previously, one of the two stages housing “24” had insufficient power capacity necessary to light the sets and run the equipment, necessitating the use of supplemental diesel-gas-fueled generators. Twentieth Century Fox Television is investing in rewiring this building, which it leases, so that no diesel generators will be needed this season.
Integrating fuel-saving and low-emission hybrid vehicles into the production fleet;
This season, the show intends to incorporate as many lower-emission vehicles as possible into departments that require considerable road travel, such as Locations, Transportation and Production Assistance.
Creating a series of PSAs about the issue starring Kiefer Sutherland and key cast members;
Kiefer Sutherland has already shot a public service announcement describing “24”‘s commitment to this issue. This season, the series intends to participate in a series of PSAs educating viewers about climate change and offering information about how they can be part of the solution.
When appropriate, incorporating the issue of global warming and the importance of carbon emission reduction into storylines;
Posting information, resources and do-it-yourself techniques for viewers to reduce their own carbon footprints on the “24” page at Fox.com.
Accruing enough carbon reduction savings through these and other innovations to render production of the entire final episode officially “carbon neutral”;
Carbon neutrality refers to a product having a balance of zero between the amount of carbon absorbed and the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere during the production of the product. Carbon neutrality is achieved through energy reduction, green power use, and purchasing “offsets” which represent investment in alternative energy and carbon reduction.
You can read more of the press release here. And you can check out Jack Bauer’s, er, I mean Kiefer Sutherland’s PSA here.
