On Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ character Elaine Benes’ worries tended to be frivolous (a dot on a cashmere sweater, faux nonfat yogurt, the list goes on…) but in real life, the actress is an advocate for the environment, working constantly to take her life to a deeper shade of green. She’s been driving a hybrid since before it was hip, has worked with almost a dozen ecological organizations in the last decade, and is married to man whose own environmental efforts are rather impressive (Brad Hall helps the Environmental Media Association changes the waste-heavy ways of Hollywood and takes the streets of L.A. in his biofuel car).

Recently the carbon-reducing couple redid their oceanfront home near Santa Barbara for increased eco-friendliness, adding rooftop solar panels, integrating sustainably-harvested wood and utilizing recycled newspaper for insulation. Louis-Dreyfus doesn’t believe all environmental change has to be as big as a major renovation, though, and sees small changes as the smart way to get everyone involved. She’s a big fan of switching out incandescent light bulbs for CFLs, purchasing recycled paper (be it computer, toilet or towel) and is trying hard to remember reusable bags for the grocery store.

The eco-activism doesn’t stop when Louis-Dreyfus steps onto the screen, though; in her new show The New Adventures of Old Christine subtle green elements have been integrated into the background. The lead character–the lovably inept Christine Campbell, played by Louis-Dreyfus–drives a Prius, and if you squint you can make out all-natural dish detergent and hand soap containers lining the set’s kitchen sink. Click here to read more

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