Ed Begley, Jr., may be best known for his portrayal of Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the popular television series St. Elsewhere, in addition to his numerous film roles. It's his passion for the environment, however, that has earned him and his wife, fellow actor Rachelle Carson Begley, a prominent place in the green movement as eco-friendly role models. The couple, who've been married for eight years, recycle water, drive hybrid cars, and power their toaster with an exercise bike — and those are just three inspiring things they're doing to save the Earth. Their dedication also extends to books, Web sites, a line of products, lectures, and a television show, "Living With Ed," that airs on the Planet Green cable network.

Everyday Health had a chat with Ed and Rachelle and asked them about the differences that going green has made in their lives.

Everyday Health: What raised your eco-consciousness?

Ed: My father grew up during the Great Depression, so he was always saving string and tinfoil and turning out the lights. I was taught never to waste anything. As a Boy Scout, I developed a deep love of the outdoors and nature. In 1970, when we celebrated the first Earth Day, I decided I needed to do my part. My father always said, "Eddie, don't tell people what you are going to do — show them by doing it yourself." So I bought my first electric car and started composting and recycling.

Everyday Health: Rachelle, you were new to the "green scene" when you met Ed. What drew you to someone so different from yourself?

Rachelle: He hooked me in with his humor. He was very, very funny, and kind of an oddity. He cared about something besides making it in Hollywood, and that intrigued me. So I started doing what he did, and I have to tell you, it wasn't easy in the beginning. There were times when I took public transportation in high heels and a miniskirt late at night and said, "Wait a minute! This isn't what I signed up for!"

Everyday Health: What had the biggest impact on you during this learning period?

Rachelle: It really hit me from a health and wellness point of view. A lot of my friends had autistic children, and I thought, "This isn't normal. This isn't because this condition is being better diagnosed - this is because something is going on!" Also, I am at an age when I've started seeing a lot of friends with cancer. Not everyone can relate to the ice shelf melting or the polar bears going extinct. But you can relate to a cousin or a friend having an autistic child, or someone close to you getting cancer when there is no real reason why. You connect on an emotional and real experiential level, especially when health is involved.

Everyday Health: Ed, has your eco-friendly lifestyle had a positive impact on your health?

Ed: I'm a pretty healthy guy, although due to my schedule I don't get quite as much exercise as I used to. But I haven't eaten red meat since 1970, I've worked hard to avoid VOCs [volatile organic compounds - pollutants that can be emitted from cleaning products and other household supplies] in my home, and I use nontoxic and organic cleaners and soaps. I do believe that has contributed to my good health…definitely.

Everyday Health: Do you and Rachelle always agree on when, where, and how to go green? Can you give me some examples of areas where you've had to compromise?

Ed: Sure. The temperature inside our house is a big one. When I was single, I would suffer with low 60s in the winter and high 70s in the summer, but Rachelle likes it much more comfortable. We used to argue about it, but with the latest round of hyper-insulating I've done in our home, combined with improved ducting and more efficient air-conditioning and heating equipment, I can now give Rachelle an even more pleasant household temperature with less energy!

The Prius [hybrid car] was another great compromise. Rachelle didn't want to worry about the lack of range or having to find an electrical outlet to charge the car, but she loves her Prius!

Another example is our rain barrels [used to collect water for use in gardening and landscaping]. Rachelle thinks they're ugly. So our compromise was to put in a gray-water system [a method of recycling dishwashing and bathing water] and store that water underground and out of sight. So again, technology came to the rescue.

Everyday Health: Rachelle, I understand you weren't always too crazy about Ed's decorating style.

Rachelle: It was rough in the beginning for me. He had all these basic trash cans full of recycling, and I said, "Can't you find something a little more aesthetically pleasing?" The trash cans and recycling bins that he's had for 14 years are still here. Some battles you just give up! But you do what you can. We have a totally organic bed and a lot of stuff that Ed made. And when I repainted the house, I used non-VOC paint that doesn't release any fumes.

Everyday Health: What misconceptions do people have about the green movement?

Ed: The main one is that you'll have to make these huge concessions. You don't. You just have to do things more efficiently. There are better, cheaper, more effective ways to get from one place to another, to heat and cool your home, to boil water. The other area of confusion is global climate change. I feel we are reaching a real scientific consensus here, but there are still people who have trouble with this issue. I tell them, "Even if you believe humans may not be the cause of global warming, why would you put a patient with a fever in a sauna?" Let's do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint and limit the impact.

Rachelle: [Living green] was not a natural thing for me. It's really hard to change the psychological or emotional bond you have with something. I always say, if I can do it, anyone can do it!

Everyday Health: For those just dipping a toe in "green waters," what are some simple things they can do?

Ed: Get out of your car - one day a week or a few days a week - and walk, ride a bike, or take public transportation. Change your lightbulbs to compact fluorescents - simple, cheap, and easy, and you will save 80 percent of your lighting energy! Use a programmable energy-saving thermostat. Recycle and compost, and get your hands in the dirt - grow some fruits and vegetables, be involved with a community garden, or buy at the local farmers' market. And perhaps reduce your meat intake a bit, because that is a huge energy saver.

Rachelle: Start consuming products made by companies that are doing the right thing. If Starbucks is giving money to help the environment, or Whole Foods is doing something great like not having plastic bags anymore, go to them instead of to someone else. Start thinking in terms of where your money is going to do the most good. We feel so powerless over so much that goes on in the world, so much that goes on in our daily life. We have to start taking the power back in the small ways. And get more information. The more educated you are, the more you can make discerning decisions.

Everyday Health: What is your environmental mission in life?

Ed: We only have this one planet, and I'd like to see us leave it in better shape than we found it. We can't keep using up natural resources like a going-out-of-business sale. I continue to work with organizations like the Coalition for Clean Air and the Thoreau Institute, and tour the country giving speeches on my sustainable practices and letting others know that this is an economically beneficial thing to do. I released my first book, Living Like Ed, in February 2008, and I'm working on a second. The fact that people want to know what I've done over the last 38 years is encouraging, so I want to continue to share that with everyone who is interested.

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