'Veggie Van' rolls off the screen, into town

Daily News film critic Gary Thompson reviews a pair of 'green'-oriented documentaries today, and both get a B- in his book.

'No Impact Man,' featuring a guy who tries to go a year without leaving a carbon footprint, misses largely because the main character is too much of a wuss, according to Gary.

On the other hand, 'Fuel' is in many ways too aggressive, pushing foreign-oil conspiracies that take up too much time and attention. Gary calls it "about as plodding and stale as it can be for nearly an hour. Until it suddenly and miraculously becomes informative, leading to a lively second half."

That's when the movie starts looking into alternative fuel, specifically algae-based biofuel and its potential as a sustainable solution, helping to power a "Veggie Van," a plug-in hybrid that's touring the country.

If you want to get a close-up look at the "Algaeus," (the fancy name for the veggie van) head out to the U.Penn campus (specifically, 40th and Locust) at 5:00 today, where the van, along with "Fuel" director Josh Tickell and producer Rebecca Harrell, will be making an appearance as part of its road trip. They'll be showing clips from the movie as well as answering your questions.

Whatever the prospects for algae-based biofuel, it's still a ways away as a commodity, so Gary gives a nod to 'No Impact Man' by remarking that until we can solve our problems with cool alternative fuels, "maybe watching less crappy television and spending more times with your kids isn't such a bad idea."

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The experts at Philadelphia's Energy Coordinating Agency answer your energy questions in our regular feature Stay Warm, Stay Green. Send in your question or questions to energy@phillynews.com.

Look for Jenice Armstrong to supply tips on green living as well as occasional columns on the subject of Green. She also blogs at Hey Jen.

Becky Batcha stays tuned for the here-and-now practical side of conservation, alternative energy, organic foods, etc. - stuff you can do at home now. Plus odds and ends.

Laurie Conrad recycles from her ever-growing e-mailbag to pass along the latest travel deals, fashion statements, household strategies, gadgets, cool local events and other nuggets of interest to those who appreciate a clean, green world.

Vance Lehmkuhl looks at topics like eco-conscious eating, public transportation and fuel-efficient driving from his perspective as a vegetarian, a daily SEPTA bus rider and a hybrid driver, as well as noting the occasional wacky trend or product. Contact Vance with your 'green' news.

Ronnie Polaneczky sees the green movement through the eyes of her 12-year-old daughter, who calls her on every scrap of paper or glass bottle that Ronnie neglects to toss into the house recycling bins. Ronnie will blog about new or unexpected ways to go green. She also blogs at So, What Happened Was...

Sandra Shea and the DN editorial board opine on any green-related legislation or policy. And we'll pass along some of the opeds on the subject that people send us.

Jonathan Takiff will be blogging mainly about consumer electronics - those things that we love to use and that suck too much energy. He'll spotlight green-conscious gizmos made in a responsible fashion, both in terms of materials used and the energy it takes to run them.

Signe Wilkinson draws the comic strip Family Tree, which follows the Tree family as they try to live green in the face of nattering neighbors, plastic-wrapped consumer products, and the primal teenage urge to spend vast quantities of money on hair care products of dubious organic quality.

In addition to these updates from our newsroom bloggers, watch for an occasional feature, Dumpster Diver Dispatches, from Philadelphia's original "green" community of artists, the Dumpster Divers. You'll learn about creative ways to reuse and recycle while you reduce, and about the artists who are making little masterpieces from what others throw out.