Jack Bauer hearts Mother Earth

Seems that terrorist threats aren't the only things that Jack Bauer likes to thwart - apparently he doesn't like litter, pollution, or global warming either.

FOX announced today that 24 has successfully become the first ever "carbon neutral" television production. Sounds rather complicated (I have a hard time separating cans from cardboard), but it's much simpler than you think.

During production for the seventh season of the real-time drama, practices such as using hybrid cars, purchasing government issued carbon credits, using fluorescent lighting and bio-diesel fuels, and distributing all production memoranda (schedules and scripts) electronically were implemented. That sounds good and all, but I'm actually surprised about the electronic dissemination of scripts. For a show like this, wouldn't you think that would lead to more plots being leaked?

Anyway, the overall effect? Carbon emissions produced during production were cut by 43% (the rest is offset by those government credits). Pretty impressive, huh? Fine by me as long as this commitment to being green doesn't affect the overall quality of the show. I think we'll be OK - something tells me Jack will still choose the ginormous black Suburban over a teensy Prius any day.