GreenFest report: Discovery Networks' Planet Green

At the recent Green Festival in San Francisco, I talked to companies trying to bring environmental concepts into the mainstream.

In my last report, I discussed eco-blogging at GreenOptions.com. Next up is an exciting venture by Discovery Channel.

This media company recently teamed up with the preeminent green activist site, TreeHugger, and together they're creating a 24-hour cable network devoted to how you can create a sustainable lifestyle. This channel, called Planet Green will premiere in early 2008 on Comcast.

Reenie Kuhlman of Discovery talked to me about their plans for Planet Green. "It's more than just launching a channel," she noted, "it's launching a global initiative for the company."

Which makes sense if you think about what Discovery started as: a way to "document and preserve the planet."

The Planet Green website is already up in beta and features simple, practical how-tos like ditching dryer sheets, avoiding pesticides in fruits and veggies, and saving paper by narrowing the margins of your documents.

But that's just the start.

In early 2008, the current Discovery Home channel (which is in about 50 million U.S. homes) will become Planet Green, with programming devoted to living light on the earth.

Kuhlman says, "It's our hope that Planet Green is going to give people the tools to actually take matters into their own hands and act."

This "eco-lifestyle network" will feature a mix of new shows and elements from other parts of the Discovery networks. Two exciting ventures will emphasize the hands-on side of green living.

First up, the current Discovery Home show Get Fresh With Sara Snow gets an extra bump of earth-friendly action on the new network. Snow's approachable, easy-to-follow tips and tricks put a sustainable household within the reach of average Americans. Watch future blog posts for an interview with her.

And Discovery just announced that remodeling guru Steve Thomas will bring his over 20+ years of experience from This Old House to Planet Green. He'll be the channel's green building and renovation expert and help make the places we live more efficient all around.

With Discovery's reach and commitment and TreeHugger's deep knowledge, this new channel sounds promising. Tune in next year.