Wa$ted (Planet Green)

WA$TED cracks down on families who are increasing the size of their carbon footprint by squandering paper, electricity, and other resources on a day-to-day basis. After monitoring their behavior, host Annabelle Gurwitch and sidekick Holter Graham challenge these "eco criminals" to curb their environmentally unfriendly habits and reduce the size of their carbon footprint in just three weeks. The prize? A cash payment representing the exact amount that their new eco-friendly lifestyle has saved them -- oh, and the chance to make a positive contribution to the environment, of course.

Wa$ted acts as a kind of mirror by allowing viewers to see a bit of themselves and their own "ungreen" behavior in the daily habits of the featured families. As a result, people may be inspired by how easy it is to make changes. The hosts share important information about the impact that even a single family can have on the overall environment, offering concrete tips for how to reduce waste without significantly altering your lifestyle. The show also demonstrates how carbon footprints are calculated and provides images to help people envision the real impact that their behavior is having on the planet. And the end of each episode concretely demonstrates the huge difference that making small changes can have on the amount of waste a family produces.

Unfortunately, the show's focus on the financial impact that each family's habits have on their household budget -- and the cash they can potentially win at the end of the episode -- dilutes some of these important messages. Sure, the financial incentive is a practical way of encouraging people to change their bad habits, but it also sends the message that people should be interested in reducing waste primarily because of what it costs them, rather than what it costs the planet. Meanwhile, corporate sponsors' logos are prominently visible in some of the show's graphics. Still, despite these issues, Wa$ted provides a lot of important information. Young tweens may not be drawn to it, but older viewers looking to become more green will find that it has a lot to offer.

TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: Planet Green
Cast: Annabelle Gurwitch, Holter Graham
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Planet Green