Is Prince Charles really as environmentally-conscious as he claims to be? A glimpse into his newly renovated Welsh farmhouse may reveal some insight into that debate. The house sits amid a 192-acre organic farm rather than a traditional royal garden. The prince and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, used sustainable products in the reconstruction of their residence, which is in keeping with details released last year that indicated the furniture would be crafted from oak and fir trees from the prince's forests, as well as Charles' plans to run the estate on hydro-electric power generated from a nearby stream.

A reporter taken on tour of the house said it uses a carbon-friendly heating system, and the eco washing powder was spotted on the kitchen draining board. The couple also chose to take the minimalist approach and eschewed the installation of popular household electronics such as televisions and DVD in favor of books about local folklore and guides to local walks in the countryside.

Nobody is actually confirming this residence, located on the Llwynywermod Estate near the village of Myddfai, Carmarthenshire, actually belongs to the Prince and his wife, however the three fathers crest of the Prince of Wales sitting above the fireplace is a pretty big clue as to who will be living there when they visit the area. Renovations will not be completed until early next year however when they are done the house will also act as a B&B (obviously when the couple is away) for those wanting to get a little taste of what royal living looks and feels like.

See more photos of the prince's new digs after the jump.

» Daily Mail

This Sunday will mark one year since a powerful F-5 tornado all but destroyed the small town of Greensburg, Kansas. The storm left 11 people dead and many of the 1,400 residents saw their homes and businesses turned into a big pile of rubble. Now those who still call it home are still working to rebuild all that was destroyed, but have decided to take a green approach to doing so.

Greensburg was once known for its natural and manmade landmarks including brick buildings dating back to the turn-of-the-last-century, as well as Victorians and prairie-style houses. Now the norm are things like energy-efficient lights, rainwater collection systems and LEED Platinum certified buildings. Of the newly constructed homes, approximately 40 were built with eco-friendly components such as added insulation and double-pane windows and recycled materials including lumber and bricks salvaged from the tornado wreckage were utilized. The eco-conscious measures also extend to the interior of the homes, with water-efficient faucets, shower heads and toilets being installed. Solar panels will also provide energy to some of the homes. The local John Deere dealership and the new town arts center have both installed wind turbines, with others also in the works.

And in the event disaster should strike again, homebuilders are preparing themselves this time around by erecting tornado-fortified walls and underground shelters.

"I would never say the tornado happening was a good thing. I would never wish that on anybody," said Kim Alderfer, assistant city manager. "But given the opportunity, we have to do it right — to make it better."

"It will be a stronger, better, greener community," said Erica Goodman, a newly elected city councilwoman. "I think the green initiative is really what will set Greensburg apart from every other rural community in the United States."

The event of the tornado itself and the resulting casualties is undoubtedly a terrible occurrence, however it seems that rebuilding afterward is done in a way that is far more environmentally conscious than it ever used to be. First Brad Pitt decided to build green homes in some of the most devastated areas in New Orleans, and now Greensburg is the latest example of a town that has - as the local commemoration of the disaster puts it - turned "tragedy to triumph."

» MSNBC Environment

Sure, the sustainable housing Brad Pitt is helping construct in New Orleans is green in a figurative way, however the literal view of the homes actually reveals a shocking shade of pink.

The 150 hot pink houses will be occupied by residents of the city who were left homeless in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. They have been built in the Lower 9th Ward by 600 volunteers and Los Angeles-based architecture firm Graft designed them to be eco-friendly, equipping the houses with solar-energy and water-resistant technologies. The Make It Right charity will provide no-interest loans to prospective buyers.

Says Brad: "The heart and soul of New Orleans are paramount to this project. We're going to help 'make it right' with 150 sustainable, affordable houses so these people can live in beautiful, safe structures that respect their spirit and provide a good quality of life."

Brad is no stranger to charity - he donated $5 million to this project and over $4 million to various charities in 2006. While filming The Curious Case of Benjamin Button on location in New Orleans, Brad is said to have developed an affinity for the city and took up residence there with Angelina Jolie and their army of children.

» Daily Mail

As if donning a black leather costume for Troy wasn’t a great enough contribution to society, Brad Pitt is helping to build 150 sustainable homes in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, an area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina two years ago.

Pitt and producer Steven Bing have each committed $5 million to the “Make It Right” campaign, and are hoping the first eco friendly homes will be ready for their new residents by the end of next summer. Pitt is also soliciting donations from others in hopes that even more homes will be built.

"To build those 150 homes, we need the help of the American people," he said in a news conference Monday. "We need to all join together to do this. There is no reason why we can't do a thousand homes. I'm asking for foundations, for high-network individuals, for church groups, for corporations to come in and adopt a house. Basically $150,000 will get a family back into their home."

While I do think it’s great that Brad is committed to helping rebuild some of the hardest-hit areas in New Orleans, I think this should be considered an act of penance for making Ocean’s Twelve.  In fact, while he’s feeling charitable, I want my ten bucks and those two hours of my life back.

Read the full article to learn how you can contribute to the “Make It Right” program.

» CNN Entertainment