NEW YORK, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ — Sundance Channel EVP and GM, Laura Michalchyshyn today announced that the network will move forward with production on the eight-part series, titled “Eco-Trip: The Real Cost of Living.” Hosted by environmentalist David de Rothschild, founder of Adventure Ecology, the series, slated to premiere in 2009, will trace the origins and environmental impact of common everyday products such as a cotton t-shirt or a gold ring. “Eco-Trip” is produced by NBC’s Peacock Productions (”The Education of Ms. Groves,”"In His Own Words: Brian Williams on Hurricane Katrina,”"Global Warming: What You Need to Know”), Sharon Scott is the executive in charge, Colleen Halpin is the executive producer, and Remy Weber is the director. “Eco-Trip” is sponsored by Subaru.
Each of the one-half hour episodes will trace the eco-life of an everyday item such as a cotton t-shirt, salmon, a cell phone or a bottle of water from production to disposal, revealing the environmental, social and health effects along the way. With host David de Rothschild, founder of Adventure Ecology — an organization that uses adventure and storytelling to captivate the imagination, raise global mass media awareness and inspire individuals, communities and industry to take positive action for our planet — the series will include a pro-active component, educating viewers on the decisions they can make to live a greener lifestyle.
Michalchyshyn commented, “David has a wonderfully engaging and inquisitive personality that will charm Sundance Channel viewers as they travel with him to learn about the impact that the production of everyday objects has on our health and on our planet. And once again we are delighted to be working with the team at Peacock Productions.” She continued, “This series reflects Sundance Channel’s ongoing commitment to creating entertaining and enlightening eco-programming further building on the success of THE GREEN.”
David de Rothschild’s commitment to the environment has sent him to some of the world’s most remote and fragile regions. In 2006 he spent over 100 days attempting to cross the Arctic from Russia to Canada, which saw him become one of only 42 people, and the youngest British person ever to reach both geographical poles. Prior to his 2006 ‘Top of the World Arctic Expedition’, he had already become one of only 14 people ever to traverse the continent of Antarctica. 2009 will see David cross the Pacific from San Francisco to Sydney in a boat built from plastic bottles and recycled materials. This expedition has the working title of “The Plastiki” in homage to Thor Heyerdal’s Kontiki Expedition. The aim of the expedition is to draw attention to rethinking our everyday human fingerprints on the natural world and to capture the world’s imagination by telling the story of the pioneering, smart and sustainable design process of creating and building The Plastiki, to our oceans and the many challenges it and its inhabitants face.
The Executive Producers of “Eco-trip” for Sundance Channel are Laura Michalchyshyn and Lynne Kirby; Ann Rose is the Supervising Producer. Benjamin Ringe and Knute Walker are co-executive producers for NBC’s Peacock Productions.
About Sundance Channel:
Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different. Bold, imaginative and uncompromising, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries, and original programs, all unedited and commercial free. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression. Sundance Channel’s website address is .
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation . Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel, Lifeskool, sportskool, and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media’s NYC studios and post-production facilities.
About Peacock Productions
Peacock Productions is NBC’s award-winning, nonfiction production company that combines the editorial expertise, technical resources and seasoned production talent of NBC News to offer a wide-range of programming to broadcast, cable and digital entities with worldwide reach. For more information, please visit: .
About subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of approximately 600 dealers across the United States. subaru makes the best-selling All-Wheel Drive car sold in America based on R.L. Polk & Co. new vehicle retail registration statistics. For additional information visit .
Sundance Channel
SAN FRANCISCO, July 24 /PRNewswire/ — SolarCity, a leading provider of solar power financing, design, installation and service, announced it has completed the largest commercial solar installation in San Francisco for British Motor car Distributors, Inc. The dramatic, 287 kilowatt installation includes two rooftop carports comprised of 1,606 solar panels.
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“I commend SolarCity and British Motors for building the largest commercial solar installation in San Francisco,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “Private sector efforts such as this, in combination with our GoSolarSF incentives, will make San Francisco an international leader in solar installations.”
SolarCity designed and installed carports atop two British Motors’ buildings on the 900 block of Van Ness Avenue. British Motors’ historic showroom building at 901 Van Ness Avenue — a designated San Francisco Landmark — originally opened in 1927 and was designed by Bernard Maybeck, the nationally-renowned architect who also designed San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts.
“The solar carports are a fantastic addition to our business and look great on our buildings. We’re proud to have the largest commercial solar installation in San Francisco, and we have additional solar projects in the works for our other dealerships,” said British Motors’ chairman and owner Kjell Qvale. “We’re on the cutting edge of a green revolution.”
The solar system is expected to generate 370,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power 80 San Francisco homes. During the peak months of May through October the system will generate surplus power and earn credits with PG&E, offsetting the less sunny winter months.
“We wanted to do something positive for future generations, and what better way to do it than to adopt clean power,” said Jeff Qvale, president of British Motors. “Thanks to SolarCity for designing functional solar arrays that enhance our buildings aesthetically, protect our inventory and provide most of the electricity we need to run our business.”
Over its lifetime, British Motors’ solar installation is expected to offset an estimated 14 million pounds of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of planting 6,774 trees. In addition to providing clean, renewable power to British Motors, the structure provides ultraviolet and weather protection for the dealership’s automobiles.
“This installation is particularly meaningful to us, because of the historical and aesthetic significance of the buildings,” said Peter Rive, SolarCity’s co-founder and chief operating officer. “We worked closely with British Motors and the city of San Francisco to ensure that the design is consistent with the existing architecture, and we’re delighted with the result.”
SolarCity has completed the largest commercial solar installation in a major Bay Area city for the second time this year. The company completed solar arrays spanning five buildings on eBay’s north campus in May, the largest such installation in San Jose to date.
About British Motors
San Francisco’s British Motor car Distributors is a true reflection of its founder, Kjell Qvale: enterprising, imaginative and at the forefront of meaningful innovations. Qvale, now celebrating over sixty years as a major figure in the auto industry, founded his first car dealership in l946, acquired the MG product line in l947 and opened British Motors in 1949. His dealership today offers Jaguar, Land Rover, Bentley, Lamborghini and Lotus automobiles to customers in its San Francisco and San Jose showrooms. Qvale organized the first Import car Show in San Francisco in 1958 (now, the San Francisco International Auto Show), manufactured the acclaimed Jensen Healey for six years beginning in l970, and more recently, produced the Qvale Mangusto sports car. In 2008, British Motors added another significant “first” to its list of achievements: the largest commercial solar power installation in San Francisco.
About SolarCity
SolarCity matches advanced solar power technology with a suite of installation services. The company’s comprehensive offering removes the technical, regulatory and financing barriers to solar power, helping customers make smart renewable energy choices that can save money. Boasting the industry’s most experienced team in solar system design and installation, and a proven track record of bringing new technologies to market, SolarCity is uniquely positioned to make solar power a practical choice for homeowners and businesses. SolarCity serves communities in California, Oregon and Arizona. Additional information about the company is available on the Web at .
SolarCity