The "Inconvenient Truth" About Al Gore's Electrical Bill
Al Gore Spends - in One MONTH - What an Average American Family Spends in an Entire YEAR on Energy Bills
Or... George Bush?
Seems a silly comparison at first, but maybe not. The Tennessee Center for Policy Research has found that what Gore deserves more than a gold statuette is a lesson from the current President of the United States.
Located in the Belle Meade neighborhood of Nashville, Gore's mansion turns out to be a real drain on the area's power grid. It seems that Al Gore consumes more electricity in one month than the average American family does in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service.
According to the Department of Energy, the average American household consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. By comparison, Gore used more than 20 times that - a whopping 220,000 kWh - in 2006.
Even more amazing, last August Gore consumed 22,619 kWh, an astonishing two times as much - in one month - than that same average American family uses in a year. As a result of that consumption, Gore footed an average monthly electric bill of $1,359.
During the time since "An Inconvenient Truth" was released, of course, Al Gore must have lowered his energy consumption. Right? It's what he's telling all of us to do. Well... maybe not. From 2005 to 2006, Gore's average energy consumption jumped from 16,200 kWh per month to 18.400 kWh.
Not a lot of cutting back, Al. Definitely not a good example for those of us trying to take our cues from you.
On the other hand, we have George Bush. Surely the man constantly accused of being in bed with the anti-environmentalist, pro-oil lobbyists would have a house made to use up even more resources than Gore, correct?
Again... maybe not.
In an article first published in the Chicago Tribune in 2001, Rob Sullivan describes Bush's 4,000-square-foot home near Crawford, Texas thusly:
Geothermal heat pumps located in a central closet circulate water through pipes buried 300 feet deep in the ground where the temperature is a constant 67 degrees; the water heats the house in the winter and cools it in the summer. Systems such as the one in this "eco-friendly" dwelling use about 25% of the electricity that traditional heating and cooling systems utilize.
A 25,000-gallon underground cistern collects rainwater gathered from roof runs; wastewater from sinks, toilets and showers goes into underground purifying tanks and is also funneled into the cistern. The water from the cistern is used to irrigate the landscaping surrounding the four-bedroom home. Plants and flowers native to the high prairie area blend the structure into the surrounding ecosystem.
Says Drew Johnson, president of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research: "As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use."
John Hinderaker at News Bloggers wonders about Gore's other wastes of energy:
"How much energy do his other mansions and estates consume?" he asks. "And how about those private airplanes, the ultimate CO2 machines?"
Gore has released a statement, defending his excessive use of natural resources, by revealing that he purchases carbon offsets that equal the excessive amount of energy he uses. In effect, Gore is paying other people to conserve energy, since he obviously can't be bothered. Gore also says he is in the process of installing solar panels on his mansion, and that his house uses low-energy light bulbs. Still, one has to wonder why even that has taken the "Goracle," as environmentalists have started calling him, so long. And why has his use of energy actually gone UP in the year since "An Inconvenient Truth" was released?
In truth, Gore's use of energy isn't really any of the public's business. He is a private citizen, and we live in a market-driven, capitalist society. What he does with his money is certainly his business, and absolutely none of mine. But when he tells me to live my life a certain way, then goes and lives his own in the wasteful, harmful way he warns about again and again, it is absolutely becomes cause for concern.
Al Gore or George Bush. Will the real environmentalist please stand up?
www.tennesseepolicy.org/main/article.php
www.commondreams.org/views01/0429-03.htm
www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/is_george_bush.php
wizbangblog.com/2007/02/26/al-gores-own-inconvenient-truth.php
Published by Eric Fleming - Featured Contributor in Technology
I've worn many work hats. I've worked as a choir director and piano instructor. I've worked in a computer lab and a bookstore. I've sold sheet music, band instruments and guitars. I have managed a Google... View profile
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36 Comments
Post a CommentIt's telling that many of those opposed to taking action on climate change spend more time attacking Al Gore personally than talking about actual climate change science. 97% of climatologists polled by CNN believe climate change is occurring, it's caused by human carbon dioxide pollution, and poses significant risk to our planet. 97 percent. These are the facts we should be talking about, not how much entertaining Al Gore does.
A good proposal: replace our employment tax with a carbon tax. Tax what we burn not what we earn. Some advantages: drive *marketplace solutions* for alternative technologies, create jobs through lower employment taxes, focus our economy on future technology not dying technology, save huge costs from droughts, ecosystem collapse and extreme weather, and reduce our dependency on foreign oil. I don't think we should tax more, let's just tax bad things (like runaway CO2) and not good things (like employing people).
Let's have the str
Sorry about the overpoast thing....
, is by reducing the amount of energy we use (now). But, it is important to develop, or utilize the already developed energy sources that are available. Once the switch begins, we will take a huge step in the right direction. Once it starts, many small companies will start, and large corporations will continue expanding, developing, and producing clean energy for us to enjoy and exploit worry free.... Competition.... Just like cell phones... Eventually it will be available to everyone at an affordable price.
Everyone uses stuff. He happens to use more stuff than the average American, and happens to have a house slightly larger than the typical America. Central air, lights, and enormous microwaves that can cook an entire cow are not standard things in the typical American household. Well some of them are standard, but not in the excess that a huge house necessitates them. He is also not the typical American. Happened to be the VP of the country for 8 years.... That is something that dose not happen to a hand full of people......
He may use more power than the typical doctor, lawyer, contractor or whoever, but his idea isn't to just to use less power now. A good idea to lessen use of power now. Its pretty much all we can do at the moment until our energy sources change. However, the overall idea is to replace that power that, well, he may be exploiting, but to replace that power supply with something renewable that does not destroy our earth. That is what he is striving for so
all the people of the world can enjoy our glorious technologies without destroying the planet.
I understand the concept of the article, even though I failed to read it in entirety, but there is a good concept there. There is a long line of controversy involved with it, the whole big business aspect? Many people will loose their current jobs, but there will be new jobs developed out of the transition. For instance, the companies' that supply energy now, will be the ones that do in the future. So the jobs may not be lost, rather changed. The jobs that are not there yet will be the new ones; clearly the ones that will be developing the new technologies and the ways in which they will be developed, distributed, and then purchased by us (the consumer). .
To recap.... Now, the way we can help the planet that pretty much all of us live on, most of the time, is by reducing the amount of energy we use (now). But, it is important to develop, or utilize the already developed ene
all the people of the world can enjoy our glorious technologies without destroying the planet.
I understand the concept of the article, even though I failed to read it in entirety, but there is a good concept there. There is a long line of controversy involved with it, the whole big business aspect? Many people will loose their current jobs, but there will be new jobs developed out of the transition. For instance, the companies' that supply energy now, will be the ones that do in the future. So the jobs may not be lost, rather changed. The jobs that are not there yet will be the new ones; clearly the ones that will be developing the new technologies and the ways in which they will be developed, distributed, and then purchased by us (the consumer). .
To recap.... Now, the way we can help the planet that pretty much all of us live on, most of the time, is by reducing the amount of energy we use (now). But, it is important to develop, or utilize the already developed ene
Everyone uses stuff. He happens to use more stuff than the average American, and happens to have a house slightly larger than the typical America. Central air, lights, and enormous microwaves that can cook an entire cow are not standard things in the typical American household. Well some of them are standard, but not in the excess that a huge house necessitates them. He is also not the typical American. Happened to be the VP of the country for 8 years.... That is something that dose not happen to a hand full of people......
He may use more power than the typical doctor, lawyer, contractor or whoever, but his idea isn't to just to use less power now. A good idea to lessen use of power now. Its pretty much all we can do at the moment until our energy sources change. However, the overall idea is to replace that power that, well, he may be exploiting, but to replace that power supply with something renewable that does not destroy our earth. That is what he is striving for so
Come on, guys, Al Gore works at home, has a large family, and plus... most of his energy is renewable. At least his acts are sustainable.
Ok, so why is pointing out that Al Gore is over using his electricity in any way a political statment...he is not running for office (sorry, thank GOD!). Are we to assume then, that if we can pay for carbon offsets we can use as much natural resources as we feel like???
I do not understand how anyone can use that much electricity??? Is he home constantly, no, he has been on a speaking tour due to his movies success, they don't have a house full of babies...Yes, he has a very large house & maybe comparing it to President Bush isn't the PC thing to do here(???) but the only reason that a person of Mr. Gore's wealth & environmental status could have for that kind of excessive use is he has a green house in his basement(???). Isn't that how they find underground pot growers??? The fact that he has made speech after speech about how the average family needs to wake up & make big changes is ridiculous if all he is going to do is talk about it himself. There is no reason for him to be
You can complain about the messenger but you can't kill the message. Global warming exists, and Bush refused to sign the Kyoto Treaty even though the rest of the world did. Yeah, great environmentalist.
It is my understanding that Al Gore has a large family. I also have a large family just a few short months ago. Do you know how many loads of laundry has to be done for a large family. Do you know how many baths and dishwasher loads of dishes have to be done everyday. And that is trying to conserve energy. Especially if you have a large family. There is always somebody home. Not like a family that has one kid, and nobody is home most of the time. It was well written however, George Bush loves Laura Bush, and isnot unfaithful.