An Eco-Visit to Ed Begley Jr.’s Solar System

Everyone says Ed Begley Jr. is a genuinely nice guy. Begley doesn’t just talk about his Best Friends in Hollywood. He really has best friends there, people like Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, Daryl Hannah and Eric Idle, who’ve been trekking to the Geffen Playhouse to see him in the current run of David Mamet plays, “The Cryptogram” and “The Old Neighborhood.”

Under the circumstances, what do you make of this scenario?

We’re about to go for a spin with Begley in a natural-gas Chevy Cavalier, which is Southern Californianly hot. Begley, being the nice guy he is, takes full responsibility for that.

“Sorry. Roll that window down,” he says as we’re getting in. “Actually, I’m not sorry. It’s a great day for the solar.”

Hey, you little . . . why, I oughta . . .

We’re chatting with Begley for our special edition of Out & About With Celebrities Who Will Be Self-Sufficient After the Bomb Hits. Begley is the Carol Merrill of future and ancient technologies dedicated to traveling, cleaning and eating with the least muss, fuss and bother to the ecosphere.

We’ve already taken a tour of Begley’s solar system, a halo of panels over his Studio City home that powers everything from the energy-efficient electric lights to the microwave to the self-styled LifeCycle in his daughter’s room--a bicycle that’s hooked up to a generator.

“It’s a Flintstones kind of thing,” he says.

Honey, don’t be modest. It’s definitely Jetsons.

We had run into Begley at a Christmas party, where he was brimming with holiday cheer. He was expecting his new baby, a spanking fresh-out-of-the-factory GM EV1 electric car with nickel-metal-hydride batteries. When the dealer called last month to say his car was ready, he was ecstatic.

“Then they said, ‘Now we’re going to pick it up again on Friday. This is just a loaner for you to test for two days.’ They don’t have enough ready now to give to everybody. I think I’m getting mine March 19. Can’t wait.

“It’s incredible. It’ll go 160 miles instead of 70 miles before you need to charge it. The engine’s a little quieter. There’s a little less shimmy when you floor it.”

We go for a silent spin in the electric car Begley has been leasing for two years. After that, he shows us a natural-gas Cavalier that completes his planet-saving strategy for motorists--tool around town in an emissions-free electric car; drive a natural-gas vehicle for longer distances.

This particular Cavalier is a loaner from GM, which was soliciting Begley’s input as part of its product evaluation program. His enthusiasm for eco-travel has also spread to Hollywoodites like Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, Jack Nicholson and Danny DeVito, who’ve all gone electric.

That leaves you.

“Now I think that more people are going to embrace this car because the range is adequate. I’m not saying a blue-collar person is going to get this car--$499 a month is really steep for a lease. But keep in mind, the service is nothing. All you’d have would be a $15-a-month extra fee on your electric bill.”

With that, we retire to the dining room for a spot of solar soup--black bean heated in Begley’s solar oven in the backyard. Pass the white sea salt, please.

*

After consorting with the new age Carol Merrill-like Ed Begley Jr., we decided to chat with the new age Carol Merrill-like Carol Merrill, who’s hoping to become the new age Martha Stewart. The lovely Carol Merrill had faxed us from Hawaii after we passed on Monty Hall’s report that she was living on a macadamia nut plantation. You boomers out there will remember her as the uber refrigerator demonstrator from “Let’s Make a Deal.”

“Aloha. Carol.”

That’s how she answers the phone. Love that.

Who knew that while Merrill was busy becoming a boomer icon, she was also steaming her vegetables?

“They used to tease me at the studio because between the rehearsal and the show, there would be steam coming out of my dressing room.”

Now she’s living the healthy life on the Big Island with Mark Burgess, her 11-years-younger, surfer-landscape-architect husband. You go, girl. Their menu includes chemical-free fruit from their own trees.

And Merrill is cooking up a return to television in segments about “Opening Doors to Healthy Living.” She will now demonstrate how to make your own macadamia nut milk.

“You can do it with any nut you can think of. The part that’s in your strainer you can use for a facial. All you add is a little vanilla and organic maple syrup to the milk. It’s delicious and healthy and it’s quick.”

But one thing stands between Merrill and her triumphant comeback.

“I have to strike a deal with someone. Pardon the pun.”

Sorry. We couldn’t resist. Actually, no. We’re not sorry.

Irene Lacher’s Out & About column runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on Page 2.