MTV just released information about the 20th (yes, 20th!) season of granddaddy of reality television shows, The Real World, and looks like RW will revisit the city of its second season, Los Angeles (more specifically, Hollywood).

What’s this got to do with the environment? Well, MTV is claiming that this season will have a green slant. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the show, The Real World films seven strangers who "live together and have their lives taped" in cities in the U.S. and around the globe. The Real World: Hollywood has already been cast, will start filming this fall, and will air sometime after the New Year.

The newest Real World house (which are, as a rule, large and lavish) is going to be built using eco-friendly building principles. According to a press release issued by MTV, "The Real World house will include everything from solar energy solutions to bamboo flooring, recycled glass counters, some sustainable furniture and recycled vintage decor, Energy Star appliances, a solar heated swimming pool and energy efficient lighting." Bunim-Murray Productions, the longtime producer of the series, claims that it is trying to green up its production practices through energy-efficiency and carbon offsetting. In addition, eco-friendly products and practices will be promoted throughout the series, so viewers can be introduced to a greener way of life along with the cast members, and MTV will showcase things viewers can do to lessen their environmental footprint. There was no word whether or not MTV plans on replacing the typical house SUVs with hybrids, flex-fuel, or biodiesel vehicles, nor whether the job assigned to the casts will have an environmental focus.

I’m a big fan of reality television (don’t judge!), but The Real World lost its luster right around the Las Vegas season, when the focus shifted from documenting the lives of dynamic young people, to a MTV-sponsored booze and sexfest for pretty twentysomethings who aspire to…film more reality television. Will this Real World house really be green, or is this a case of greenwashing? I can’t imagine the typical Real World castmember of the past seven or eight years getting stoked about sustainability, in between dancing on bars, hooking up, and avoiding actual real jobs. But maybe, just maybe, the visibility of green practices, however small they may be, just might raise some consciousness among the MTV set. However, the possible juxtaposition of a green Real World with that tribute-to-all-excesses My Super Sweet Sixteen might just be too ironic for me. Will the "Green World" be as green as The Real World is real?

From the people at WGBH in Boston, the same people who produce The World, Antiques Roadshow, American Experience, Nova and popular children's programming such as Postcards from Buster and Zoom come the latest in children's entertainment: Meet the Greens an online interactive experience that introduces kids to green living. Each month, the website will introduce a new episode and new content for kids to explore.

In addition to the monthly episode/cartoon, the site features a blog, music, downloadable wallpaper and avatars, tips and quizzes on eco-living, and mini-stories about different topics in ecology, sustainability, social equity, and environmentalism. The site is easy to navigate and visually appealing to kids, and most of the content has links where viewers can get more information.

The Greens themselves are a hodge-podge of colorful characters, including kids, adults, and animals, designed to provide a green alternative to the typical portrayal of cartoon families. I particularly liked the dreadlocked, Rasta-hat-wearing Hector, described as "a kid who doesn't say much, but usually knows what he's talking about," and has a feature about saving water at home… in just ten words.

Overall, kids and tweens will find The Greens to be likable and entertaining. Much like those other popular kids films, the characters drop pop-culture references that both kids and adults will find amusing. More importantly, The Greens give kids a pop-culture reflection of what environmentally-conscious families can look like. The Greens are interesting, funny characters who happen to care about sustainability. The kid characters are empowering and passionate without being preachy. I'd personally like to see more content in the second "episode," with more character storylines to supplement the diverse informational articles, nd if there's something you'd like to see, The Greens want feedback on the site, which you can give here.