Will Xena the Warrior Princess unleash her wrath on climate change deniers? Are you jonesing for a "Planet Earth" sequel? Wanna learn how to do you own home energy audit? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Tell 'Em What You Really Think, Xena Lucy Lawless is talking smack ... and when she talks tough, you'd best listen up. In a recent interview with MNN, she sounded off about planting trees, honey bees, and how she thinks that "people running climate change denial campaigns are sociopaths."

Where's Adrian Grenier's iPhone App? Last May, Team Grenier was touting a new app called EcoHero that would act as a virtual tool belt, complete with a set of tools to help consumers gauge the health and environmental impacts of their choices. As Ecorazzi points out, that's the last we've heard of it.

Discovery to Simulcast "LIFE" No matter which of the 7 Discovery owned networks you're watching on March 21st at 8pm, you'll be tuned into "LIFE." I'm not being philosophical here, that's the title of the nature doc that's being dubbed the next chapter to the BBC's classic "Planet Earth."

Would You be More Likely to Wear a Helmet if? Designers are coming up with all kinds of nifty new features to entice bikers into adopting safer habits. These innovations include helmets that fold up, helmets that look like hats, and rain-proof helmet skins that look like dinosaurs (my fave).

DIY Home Energy Audit Advertisements always say that energy audits pay for themselves -- well in this case, they might even turn a profit. CasaSugar has put together a slide show that will give you step by step instructions for how to be an amateur energy sleuth.

Green in a Flash:

• Four square meters of rainforest = three lines of cocaine.
• Colorado has adopted a 30% by 2020 renewable energy standard.
• Wanna make your own galoshes out of plastic bags (they look a lot cooler than they sound)?

April showers may bring May flowers, but smart gardeners are thinking about their plan much earlier in the year.

Haven't started your green planning yet? Don't worry, you can get a Michelle Obama-worthy garden up and running in seven easy steps!

The best way to start, whether you're doing a simple herb garden for pizza toppings by your back door, or an elaborate Versaille-style topiary showplace on the back 40, is with a plan. Better Homes and Garden has a great online garden planning tool that works for every size project.

Wanna look red carpet-ready without sacrificing your eco-principles? Wondering who not to invite to see Shamu? Did the White House fall short with its new recyclable cups? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

EcoStiletto's Green Red Carpet Tips OK, so maybe you're not walking down the red carpet at the Oscars, or even the Emmys ... but everybody's got to get all decked out for a formal event every now and then. EcoStiletto has stolen Hollywood's eco-friendly glamor secrets and is giving them away for free.

Hayden Panettiere is not a SeaWorld fan If you ever see Hayden at SeaWorld, she'll probably be carrying a bullhorn and a protest sign. Responding to the tragic death of one of SeaWorld's orca trainers, Hayden says "It's disgusting and Sea World is absolutely wrong. This is a big wake up call."

And the Winner is: "The Cove" In case you need fodder for your must-see list, the documentary that exposed and shut down Taiji's secret dolphin slaughter topped the impressive list of Best Documentary nominees to take home the statue. Congratulations to the filmmakers!

The White House's Greener Coffee Cups As part of the administration's efforts to reduce its footprint, the White House is touting a new set of biodegradable hot beverage cups made from 12% post-consumer recycled content. Props for the 12%, guys, but have you ever heard of ceramic coffee mugs?

Speaking of Coffee, There's a Coffee-Powered Car On some mornings, I feel that my brain runs on coffee, but an experimental car in the UK quite literally burns coffee grounds as fuel. The alternative fuel "Carpuccino" slurps down 56 espressos per mile, making it 25 to 50 times more expensive to drive than a gas-guzzler.

Green in a Flash:.

• Moving tip: Wine boxes are perfect for packing fragile items.
• Pothole gardening turns horticulture into an extreme sport.
• This high tech bike light harvests electromagnetic power from your wheels.

This was a big year for films with an eco-message, with "Avatar" at the top of the list. Even though the awards have been given out, and Avatar was passed over for the big nod, it's still worth your time to check out the many eco-minded films that were nominated for an Academy Award this year.

Disney's film "Up" dealt with gentrification and urbanization. According to Grist, "The Fantastic Mr. Fox", nominated for Animated Feature Film and Music (Original Score) is an eco-film because of its anti-meat message. I say go see it because the scenes of the animals eating are the funniest thing on the big screen this year. Also: Clooney.

Treehugger did a great round up of the nominated documentaries, all of which have riveting stories and film-making, plus a wide variety of green perspectives:

Which eco-celeb says that you practically need to be a chemist to shop at the grocery store? Will any green flicks take home an Oscar this weekend? If you shove a lime wedge in your beer bottle, can it still be recycled? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Meryl Streep Was an Organic Pioneer Unlike her most recent character, Julia Child, who resisted organic food for years before giving it a try, Meryl Streep began working with the NRDC 21 years ago, when she formed Mothers & Others -- a campaign designed to get the word out about chem-free food.

Will "The Cove" Win an Oscar? Tons of environmentalists are crossing their fingers in hopes that "The Cove" will win an Oscar for Best Documentary, but perhaps no one more than super-fan Ben Stiller. Ben even went on Larry King last year to tout the eco-doc. Says Ben: "I'm pulling for it for sure."

Sarah Palin Pitches Planet Alaska TV Show Word has it that the former VP candidate is working with reality show guru Mark Burnett to develop a "Planet-Earth type look" at her home state. FYI, "Planet Alaska" is not the working title or anything, I made it up ... but if they use it I want a cut.

Tips for Getting Your Eco-Happy Hour On It's always five o'clock somewhere, which means that if every fan of adult beverages were to rethink their drinking habits, it could pay huge dividends for the planet. Pop quiz: Which wine-stoppers are better for the environment: Corks or screw caps?

The Green Oscar Breakdown "The Cove" isn't the only environmentally-themed Oscar contender this year -- not by a long shot. In terms of green plot lines working their way into the mainstream, 2009 was a banner year. Check out Grist's rundown of the Academy's green nominees.

Green in a Flash:

• The 2011 Mustang V6 will get 31mpg on the highway.
• Take a video tour of Seattle's Link light rail system.
• Salting our roads is having a detrimental year-round effect on aquatic life.

Last week our sister site, Lemondrop, ran a piece about cute baby animals. Of course we always love animals over here at GreenDaily -- eco-friendly, conservation, all that good stuff. Also, cute baby animals.

Lemondrop did a great job of rounding up the best Friday afternoon distractions, including:

• Zooborns: Beware! This site will take over your afternoon. Zoos are pretty irresistible for most animal lovers. Add in the appeal of a yawning tiger cub, the awkward grace of an elephant calf, and video of a baby bonobo -- and that's just the most recent posts -- and you will be transfixed! Not to mention writing a big fat check to support your local zoo, which almost certainly needs the help.

Doesn't Don Draper drive a Cadillac? Why does Robert Redford want you to harass your senators? Is Knut going to get knutered? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Jon Hamm to Voice Green Mercedes Ads Although he won't be eligible for an Oscar until "Mad Men: The Movie" comes out, you will hear Jon Hamm's voice during the Academy Awards. Apparently, Don Draper will be the pitchman for Merecedes-Benz's newest hydrogen and hybrid cars (starting at $90k).

Robert Redford is Calling You Out In an effort to remind Congress that millions of Americans are still demanding a clean energy bill, Redford has launched a 72-hour call-in campaign. Redford has published a call to action on the HuffPo with all of the details necessary to give your senator an earful.

Knut's Voice Might Go Up an Octave Officials at Knut's zoo are negotiating plans to acquire a mate for the lonely bachelor, but PETA is pushing back because that mate is Knut's first cousin Giovanna. Says PETA: "A long term co-habitation between Giovanna and Knut is only feasible if Knut is castrated."

Bode Miller is a World Class Organic Farmer Sure, Bode Miller skis double diamond runs like his hair is on fire, but did you know that he also runs an organic farm? True story. Bode grew up in a home with no electricity or running water and began his organic farming career at a very early age. Watch Bode explain.

Best Tips for Saving Energy at Home A panel of judges at "Slate" is currently accepting submissions for the most effective/non-obsessive home energy-saving tips. For example, one user submitted the ever popular suggestion: "pee outside." Think you can top that? Submit your own ideas.

Green in a Flash:

• Wanna make your lunchbox more sustainable?
• UK drivers may get a $30 ticket if they idle for 10+ seconds.
• Smog costs California $193M per year in health care costs.

As we sit through one of the stormiest, snowiest, wettest winters in recent memory, it's easy to forget about the need to conserve water in hot summer months. But with many parts of the country experiencing multi-year droughts and already planning to ration water, just shutting off the faucet while brushing your teeth isn't going to be enough!

If you're dreading a brown lawn this June and July, or if you're hoping to plant an organic garden to rival First Lady Michelle Obama's at the White House, rain barrels might be the best and easiest solution for you.

Most barrels come equipped with an attached hose to make it easy to use the collected water, and a screen to keep out leaves and other debris. Many are also set up to make it easy to expand your water collection system with additional barrels. They range from basic to (surprisingly) appealing -- some might even make your yard look better! Your choice of rain barrels includes:

Which eco-celeb is getting ready to strap on her vegan leather dancing shoes? Have you ever bonded with a turkey? Want the dirt on the new Cash for Caulkers plan? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Pamela Anderson Joins DWTS The face that launched a thousand PETA campaigns will attempt to charm its way to the top on ABC's hit show "Dancing with the Stars" (which I've thankfully never watched) later this month. Seems like a perfect opportunity to showcase some faux fur.

Ginnifer Goodwin Talks About Saving the Turkeys During a chat with Jimmy Kimmel, the vegan star of "Big Love" shared her experiences as Farm Sanctuary's Thanksgiving turkey "ambassadress." According to Ginnifer, the birds love to be pet, but I don't recommend approaching any turkey, wild or domestic. They're mean.

Obama's "Cash for Caulkers" Plan The President laid out his administration's plans to stimulate both energy-efficiency and the construction industry yesterday in Savannah. In a nutshell, the plan would include rebates that you get instantly from hardware stores or contractors, instead of tax credits.

The 2010 Whale Wars Sneak Peak Want a preview of all of the thrills, chills and spills that made up this year's "Whale Wars" greatest hits? One WW fan has put together a 22-minute montage of this year's key moments, set to a very 90s soundtrack including The Smashing Pumpkins and Sister Hazel.

How to Build a House out of Glass Bottles Looking for some cheap and eco-friendly building materials to construct your dream house? Over the past 16 years, Argentina's Tito Ingenieri has mastered the art of building with glass bottles, scrap iron, and other found objects. Check out this video to see how it's done.

Green in a Flash:

• Are coal-fired power plants on the road to extinction?
• San Francisco considers shutting down critical mass rides.
• Hundreds of living fish fell from the sky in the Australian desert.

Sure, everyone is complicated, in one way or another, but few people live a paradox as dramatic as Leilani Munter, race car driver (zomg, so energy-consuming-evil!) and eco-warrior (sound of tires squealing; what?!)

The 34-year-old Munter has been racing cars professionally since 2001, when she started with stock cars. She then became just the fourth woman to race in the Indy Pro Series. She's making a career in a traditionally male industry, and carving a nice niche for herself.

There must be something in her nature that draws her to activism and challenging the stated order of things, because she is also a vocal advocate for all things green, a vegetarian, and has a degree in biology. She also adopts an acre of rainforest for every race she runs. Pretty cool way to put your actions -- and money -- where your mouth is!

What does Leona Lewis have planned for Earth Hour 2010? When you were in the first grade, did you know what a tomatoes looked like before they became ketchup? Can houseplants really improve your air quality? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Leona Lewis Makes Earth Hour Plans If you start to feel kinda silly as you sit in the dark for an hour on March 27th, just remember: Leona Lewis is doing it too. Says Lewis: "I've been asking everyone to switch off the lights. Campaigns like this really help and are effective. It's about getting the message out."

What Happens When "Avatar" Meets "Pocahontas?" Did James Cameron look to Disney's "Pocahontas" for inspiration? Probably not. Still, watch what happens when someone with entirely too much time on their hands edits footage from "Pocahontas" together with the trailer for "Avatar."

First Graders Fail Jamie Oliver's Food Quiz Can 1st graders distinguish between a tomato and a potato? Maybe they can at some fancy schmancy private school, but not at Central City Elementary in Huntington, VA. The 6-year-olds there were dumbfounded when Jamie asks the class to identify a potato.

Eco-Friendly Down Comforter Buying Tips? It's been a ridiculously cold winter, especially for those of us trying to manage our heating costs. So, what type of comforter is the warmest, yet most eco-friendly option to keep you toasty at night? Unfortunately for lovers of extreme softness, it's not goose down.

10 Plants That do More Than Look Pretty Sure, a nice bamboo palm can improve your home's feng shui, but it can also remove trace organic pollutants from the air you breathe. No kidding. Indoor air pollution can be some surprisingly nasty stuff. Check out CasaSugar's top 10 air purifying houseplants.

Green in a Flash:

• Rechargeable battery recycling is at an all time high.
• Will there be an early release for the Volt? Don't get your hopes up.
• President Obama is expected to unveil the details of the Cash for Caulkers plan today.

Put away your superhero cape -- saving the world is going to be easy!

No, you cannot save the world on your own, and no one expects you to (except maybe your mom!). But there are things that each of us can do in our everyday lives to make our carbon footprints just a little smaller, and this is just what is needed to improve the health and well-being of our planet and ourselves. None of them will break the bank or take enormous amounts of effort. But they can and will make a difference.

Eat less (or no) meat. Such diverse groups as the United Nations, PETA and the Audubon Society are laying the blame for much of our current ecological crisis on animal farming. Between the huge drain on resources such as land and water and the pollution created by the meat industry, meat turns out to be an ecological nightmare. Now, you may not want to go all the way vegetarian, but you can certainly choose to eat meat only once or twice a week. Vegetarian alternatives to burgers, hot dogs, sausages, ground beef and chicken nuggets are widely available at even discount supermarkets. Aside from the ecological desirability of such alternatives, they are also generally significantly lower in fat and calories than their fleshy counterparts.

Is your childhood obsession with Captain Planet still affecting your decisions as an adult? Which eco-celeb is getting blasted for flying his private plane to get cheesburgers? Have you ever thought about becoming an urban chicken farmer? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Gabrielle Anwar Aspires to be Like the Wombles We know that cartoons can wield some serious influence over kids, but according to "Burn Notice" star Gabrielle Anwar that influence can last well into adulthood. In an interview with EcoStiletto, Gabrielle says she still idolizes the Wombles for their use of the 3 R's.

Harrison Ford Gets Stomped by CarbonFootprint.com Suffice to say, most major celebrities (excluding Gabrielle, of course) tend to have a few hush-hush guilty pleasures that appear extremely "unnecessary" to the air-huggers at CarbonFootprint.com. In Ford's case, it's his love of flying his private plane to go pick up a cheeseburger.

Lineup Announced for "Music Saves Mountains" Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris and many more will be holding a massive concert in Nashville on March 19th to fight mountaintop removal in the Appalachian Mountains. You can see how the title "Music Moves Mountains" might not be appropriate.

The Scoop on Owning Chickens Are you considering putting a chicken coop in the backyard? Before you proceed with your plans to become a chicken farmer, you might want to check out Treehugger's disclaimer. Not that caring for chickens is particularly difficult ... just relentlessly annoying.

Al Gore Opines on the Snowpocalypse Controversy Echoing the points made by universally-trusted expert Bill Nye, Al Gore has taken to the pages of the NYT to explain how global warming puts more moisture in the atmosphere, leading to more powerful weather events -- even snowstorms. Check out Al's full op-ed.

Green in a Flash:

• Is the BarBra the answer to winter cycling?
• Check out these eco-chic shoes made from recycled TVs.
• Has the obsession with food (foodieism?) become America's newest religion?

It's election season again! That's right, time to vote ... for the sexiest vegetarian next door, that is!

PETA is all about the sexy superlatives, whether it's vegetables, celebrities, or regular folk who live down the block, don't eat meat, and are spinach-fueled sexual dynamos. Anyone can (and oh, they do) enter by submitting a photo and then hoping the great unwashed masses of PETA followers vote for you.

The voting goes on between now and March 12th, and the prize includes a trip to Hawaii. There are already over 600 entries for the ladies, who have a leader board that runs the gamut from "giant silicon implants and tattoos" to "giant silicon implants without tattoos". But the real race is happening with the sexiest meatless dudes next door.

Wanna watch Drew Barrymore save whales on the silver screen? Have you ever been stranded in a food desert? Are you dying to start working on your spring garden? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Drew Barrymore to Star in "Everybody Loves Whales" While human/whale relations are on edge this week, the title of a film based on the heartwarming whale rescue launched by Ronald Regan and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1988 is still fairly accurate. Word has it that Drew Barrymore is set to play a Greenpeace activist.

Alyson Hannigan Drops a Load of Diaper Knowledge Concerned about your baby's diaper-print? Alyson Hannigan's got an eco-diaper solution for you. Says Alyson: "We use gDiapers, a hybrid -- it's cloth on the outside and there's a liner that you can compost, but if you don't, it biodegrades in three months, not years."

Michelle Obama Declares War on "Food Deserts" You may be thinking: "I saw one of those once," but actually food deserts have nothing to do with average rainfall. As part of her healthy eating initiative, Michelle is campaigning to eliminate areas where access to fruits and veggies is scarce, and fast food is plentiful.

Wanna Lease a Tesla Roadster? Good news for those with some nice cash flow but limited savings: If you can swing the $12,453 down payment and the $1,658/month, Tesla can put you in a $100K high-performance electric car in only a couple of days. All told, the 3-year lease will cost around $70,483.

Tips For Prepping Your Spring Garden Is your green thumb getting itchy already? Even though we've got three more weeks until spring has official sprung, there are still plenty of things you can start thinking about in preparation for your springtime garden. Check out Umbra's green gardening tips.

Green in a Flash:

• Watch Bill Nye explain climate change to Bill O'Reilly.
• Puma's solar-powered phone hits shelves this year.
• Walmart has announced a goal to remove 20M metric tons of emissions from its supply chain.