Al Gore's home guzzled 20 times more electricity than the average household

RolandTD20KdrummerRolandTD20Kdrummer Posts: 13,066
edited June 2008 in A Moving Train
I'm all for cleaning up the environment, and reducing emissions, but I think Gore is just out to carbon tax people in order to get their money. Seriously though, what's the deal with this guy? How much frickn power does this idiot need?

http://tennesseepolicy.org/main/article.php?article_id=764

"In the year since Al Gore took steps to make his home more energy-efficient, the former Vice Presidents home energy use surged more than 10%, according to the Tennessee Center for Policy Research.

A mans commitment to his beliefs is best measured by what he does behind the closed doors of his own home, said Drew Johnson, President of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. Al Gore is a hypocrite and a fraud when it comes to his commitment to the environment, judging by his home energy consumption.

In the past year, Gores home burned through 213,210 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, enough to power 232 average American households for a month.

In February 2007, An Inconvenient Truth, a film based on a climate change speech developed by Gore, won an Academy Award for best documentary feature. The next day, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research uncovered that Gores Nashville home guzzled 20 times more electricity than the average American household.

After the Tennessee Center for Policy Research exposed Gores massive home energy use, the former Vice President scurried to make his home more energy-efficient. Despite adding solar panels, installing a geothermal system, replacing existing light bulbs with more efficient models, and overhauling the homes windows and ductwork, Gore now consumes more electricity than before the green overhaul.

Since taking steps to make his home more environmentally-friendly last June, Gore devours an average of 17,768 kWh per month 1,638 kWh more energy per month than before the renovations at a cost of $16,533. By comparison, the average American household consumes 11,040 kWh in an entire year, according to the Energy Information Administration.

In the wake of becoming the most well-known global warming alarmist, Gore won an Oscar, a Grammy and the Nobel Peace Prize. In addition, Gore saw his personal wealth increase by an estimated $100 million thanks largely to speaking fees and investments related to global warming hysteria.

Actions speak louder than words, and Gores actions prove that he views climate change not as a serious problem, but as a money-making opportunity, Johnson said. Gore is exploiting the publics concern about the environment to line his pockets and enhance his profile.

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research, a Nashville-based free market think tank and watchdog organization, obtained information about Gores home energy use through a public records request to the Nashville Electric Service."
Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.

http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg

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Comments

  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    the guy has a 10,000 sq. ft. home ... of course he's gonna use more electricity - i would bet that on a per sq. ft. basis for his area of the country - it would be comparable ... and if you factor in how much of that comes from renewables such as his solar panesl - it would be better then most ...

    having said that - i totally think he should scale it down but then again he is the ex vp of usa - so, maybe he needs a big house ... i doubt it tho ...
  • ledveddermanledvedderman Posts: 7,761
    I'm all for cleaning up the environment, and reducing emissions, but I think Gore is just out to carbon tax people in order to get their money. Seriously though, what's the deal with this guy? How much frickn power does this idiot need?

    http://tennesseepolicy.org/main/article.php?article_id=764

    "In the year since Al Gore took steps to make his home more energy-efficient, the former Vice Presidents home energy use surged more than 10%, according to the Tennessee Center for Policy Research.

    A mans commitment to his beliefs is best measured by what he does behind the closed doors of his own home, said Drew Johnson, President of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. Al Gore is a hypocrite and a fraud when it comes to his commitment to the environment, judging by his home energy consumption.

    In the past year, Gores home burned through 213,210 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, enough to power 232 average American households for a month.

    In February 2007, An Inconvenient Truth, a film based on a climate change speech developed by Gore, won an Academy Award for best documentary feature. The next day, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research uncovered that Gores Nashville home guzzled 20 times more electricity than the average American household.

    After the Tennessee Center for Policy Research exposed Gores massive home energy use, the former Vice President scurried to make his home more energy-efficient. Despite adding solar panels, installing a geothermal system, replacing existing light bulbs with more efficient models, and overhauling the homes windows and ductwork, Gore now consumes more electricity than before the green overhaul.

    Since taking steps to make his home more environmentally-friendly last June, Gore devours an average of 17,768 kWh per month 1,638 kWh more energy per month than before the renovations at a cost of $16,533. By comparison, the average American household consumes 11,040 kWh in an entire year, according to the Energy Information Administration.

    In the wake of becoming the most well-known global warming alarmist, Gore won an Oscar, a Grammy and the Nobel Peace Prize. In addition, Gore saw his personal wealth increase by an estimated $100 million thanks largely to speaking fees and investments related to global warming hysteria.

    Actions speak louder than words, and Gores actions prove that he views climate change not as a serious problem, but as a money-making opportunity, Johnson said. Gore is exploiting the publics concern about the environment to line his pockets and enhance his profile.

    The Tennessee Center for Policy Research, a Nashville-based free market think tank and watchdog organization, obtained information about Gores home energy use through a public records request to the Nashville Electric Service."

    Does comparing a 10,000 sq. ft. home in the hot and humid south sound like a fair comparison to the Joe American's average electrical bill?
  • Does comparing a 10,000 sq. ft. home in the hot and humid south sound like a fair comparison to the Joe American's average electrical bill?


    By a factor of 20?!
    Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
    and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
    over specific principles, goals, and policies.

    http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg

    (\__/)
    ( o.O)
    (")_(")
  • rebornFixerrebornFixer Posts: 4,901
    I like and agree with Gore's initiative around climate change, but this did make me snicker. It doesn't change the validity of his message, but it IS kinda funny.
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    I like and agree with Gore's initiative around climate change, but this did make me snicker. It doesn't change the validity of his message, but it IS kinda funny.

    yo dude

    what you think of greenies idea to put a huge tax on carbon and use that money to reduce income and other taxes?
  • mattcozeamattcozea Posts: 377
    polaris wrote:
    the guy has a 10,000 sq. ft. home ... of course he's gonna use more electricity
    So he's still putting the personal luxury of having a 10,000 sq. ft. home ahead of the environment, and we gave this guy a Nobel Peace Prize.
    6-27-98 Alpine Valley
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  • Gore should be lobbying car manufacturers for more efficient cars like no tomorrow, instead of coming up with new taxes for people to pay.

    He should also be bitching about diverting some war spending into green energy so that it is affordable.

    ....I didn't hear much (anything) about him doing this in his movie.

    So in that regard.....to hell with him and his suspicious agenda.
    Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
    and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
    over specific principles, goals, and policies.

    http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg

    (\__/)
    ( o.O)
    (")_(")
  • Kel VarnsenKel Varnsen Posts: 1,952
    mattcoz wrote:
    So he's still putting the personal luxury of having a 10,000 sq. ft. home ahead of the environment

    But what to do about it is kind of tricky. Yes living it it sucks back a ton of energy. But tearing it down and building something new would also use a ton of energy. And manufacturing all the new building materials would use up energy. Not all of the materials that would go to a landfill for the house that was demolished. I am not sure at what point it would start to save energy.
  • ThecureThecure Posts: 814
    Does comparing a 10,000 sq. ft. home in the hot and humid south sound like a fair comparison to the Joe American's average electrical bill?

    well teh question sthat has to be asked is why does he have a 10,000 sq. ft. house. does he need that much space.
    People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."
    - Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

    If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me."
    - Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980)
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    mattcoz wrote:
    So he's still putting the personal luxury of having a 10,000 sq. ft. home ahead of the environment, and we gave this guy a Nobel Peace Prize.

    absolutely ... ultimately tho - it's about you and me ... would i like al gore to live a less of a footprint lifestyle? ... sure ... but really - this article is nothing more than a smear piece from a right wing think tank ...

    as for the tax - I am ALL FOR A CARBON TAX ... in return I would cut taxes across the board on goods, services and income ...
  • polaris wrote:
    absolutely ... ultimately tho - it's about you and me ... would i like al gore to live a less of a footprint lifestyle? ... sure ... but really - this article is nothing more than a smear piece from a right wing think tank ...

    as for the tax - I am ALL FOR A CARBON TAX ... in return I would cut taxes across the board on goods, services and income ...

    Do you have any idea how many taxes you pay for various services? and you want another one? You have to be out of your mind.

    This guy needs to strike at the source of the problem instead of fleecing the public for more money. throw some more money at it... that'll fix it...lol
    Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
    and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
    over specific principles, goals, and policies.

    http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg

    (\__/)
    ( o.O)
    (")_(")
  • ThecureThecure Posts: 814
    But what to do about it is kind of tricky. Yes living it it sucks back a ton of energy. But tearing it down and building something new would also use a ton of energy. And manufacturing all the new building materials would use up energy. Not all of the materials that would go to a landfill for the house that was demolished. I am not sure at what point it would start to save energy.

    you make a good point what i would say is that you have a cost assessment and see how much energy it would take to build a new house (if he has too, he might just have to use less power) and see if that cost would be better for the enviroment. also, Al Gore has been fighting for teh enviroment for a long time according to him and other so the questions that has to be ask is why did he build that house in the first place.
    People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."
    - Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

    If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me."
    - Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980)
  • Thecure wrote:
    you make a good point what i would say is that you have a cost assessment and see how much energy it would take to build a new house (if he has too, he might just have to use less power) and see if that cost would be better for the enviroment. also, Al Gore has been fighting for teh enviroment for a long time according to him and other so the questions that has to be ask is why did he build that house in the first place.


    He did do a bunch enviro upgrades... now he uses even more power...
    Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
    and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
    over specific principles, goals, and policies.

    http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg

    (\__/)
    ( o.O)
    (")_(")
  • ThecureThecure Posts: 814
    Do you have any idea how many taxes you pay for various services? and you want another one? You have to be out of your mind.

    This guy needs to strike at the source of the problem instead of fleecing the public for more money. throw some more money at it... that'll fix it...lol

    yes i do realize how much taxes a pay for various services and if they are making my life better i say thank you. also what do you believe is the source of the problem?
    People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."
    - Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

    If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me."
    - Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980)
  • ThecureThecure Posts: 814
    He did do a bunch enviro upgrades... now he uses even more power...

    which could mean that the enviro upgrades are not doing a good job so maybe we should spend more money on getting better tools for the enviroment.
    People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."
    - Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

    If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me."
    - Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980)
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    Do you have any idea how many taxes you pay for various services? and you want another one? You have to be out of your mind.

    This guy needs to strike at the source of the problem instead of fleecing the public for more money. throw some more money at it... that'll fix it...lol

    uhhh ... that's why i would reduce taxes across the board elsewhere ...

    right now, we do not pay the true cost of energy ... the health effects of fossil fuel burning is costly to us that has to be made up through our conventional streams ... why not try and foster a change to both move away from non-renewable, health affecting forms of energy?

    and i'm not sure what gore's plan is but i see a carbon tax as a MUST
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    He did do a bunch enviro upgrades... now he uses even more power...

    dude ... you need to compare apples to apples ... compare his energy consumption on a per sq. ft. basis and i'm pretty sure it would be comparable ... and one should take out the energy that comes from his solar panels ...
  • Kel VarnsenKel Varnsen Posts: 1,952
    I am also wondering what this report means by "average household"? I mean if they just took the energy use of every residence I would think the amount of people living in highrise apartments or town/row-houses would totally skew the average since they would use way less energy (and that is probably where a huge portion of people live). I mean I doubt Al Gore lives in a house where he shares a wall with his neighbour. I would be more curious as to how far off Gore's house is compared to the average single-family home.
  • polaris wrote:
    dude ... you need to compare apples to apples ... compare his energy consumption on a per sq. ft. basis and i'm pretty sure it would be comparable ... and one should take out the energy that comes from his solar panels ...

    ok... factor in 20 times less square footage. The average footprint for habitation in the US is 500 square feet of living space?!

    Regardless of solar, geothermal etc...etc..modifications, he's using more energy afterwards.

    Did you read the article?

    This guy is off the charts on power consumption.
    Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
    and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
    over specific principles, goals, and policies.

    http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg

    (\__/)
    ( o.O)
    (")_(")
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    ok... factor in 20 times less square footage. The average footprint for habitation in the US is 500 square feet of living space?!

    Regardless of solar, geothermal etc...etc..modifications, he's using more energy afterwards.

    Did you read the article?

    This guy is off the charts on power consumption.

    yeah ... i read it ...

    so - what happens when you factor out 20 times his consumption!?? ... you get him well in line with everyone else ...

    plus - the dude buys his power strictly from wind and solar sources - so, although his overall consumption is high - it's not as polluting as someone with 20 times less consumption getting their power from coal or other fossil fuel sources ...

    seriously, there are a lot of things to nitpick al gore about ... but this article is a piece of trash that's just aimed to smear him and the overall message ...
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    I am also wondering what this report means by "average household"? I mean if they just took the energy use of every residence I would think the amount of people living in highrise apartments or town/row-houses would totally skew the average since they would use way less energy (and that is probably where a huge portion of people live). I mean I doubt Al Gore lives in a house where he shares a wall with his neighbour. I would be more curious as to how far off Gore's house is compared to the average single-family home.

    exactly ... that's including mobile home units and everything ... plus dude lives in one of the worst regions in the states because it actually has a winter (heat) and hot muggy summers (a/c) ... i think i read somewhere that his area of the country uses some 50% more energy then the average household around the states because of its climate ...
  • rebornFixerrebornFixer Posts: 4,901
    polaris wrote:
    yo dude

    what you think of greenies idea to put a huge tax on carbon and use that money to reduce income and other taxes?

    I am probably one of the few "red tories" who likes the idea ...
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,497
    This is no surprise...a robot that large needs a lot of power.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • Kel VarnsenKel Varnsen Posts: 1,952
    ok... factor in 20 times less square footage. The average footprint for habitation in the US is 500 square feet of living space?!

    Regardless of solar, geothermal etc...etc..modifications, he's using more energy afterwards.

    Did you read the article?

    This guy is off the charts on power consumption.


    I don't think the average home is 500 square feet. But I would believe that the average home shares at least 1 wall with a neighbour (and possibly has another home above you) and probably doesn't have the luxury of central air conditioning (I bet Gore does). Both of those things lead to significantly less energy use for the average home. Plus anyone know if Al Gore has a pool? I am sure the average home doesn't. Those things contribute to the fact that he is using way more than the average home, even proportionally based on size.
  • polaris wrote:
    uhhh ... that's why i would reduce taxes across the board elsewhere ...

    You might reduce taxes elsewhere, but that's not what gonna happen. It just gets heaped on top of all the other taxes that need to be paid...
    polaris wrote:

    right now, we do not pay the true cost of energy ... the health effects of fossil fuel burning is costly to us that has to be made up through our conventional streams ... why not try and foster a change to both move away from non-renewable, health affecting forms of energy?

    agree...what is Gore doing actively about it, and specifically? Kinda like nothing really except telling people they need to reduce their lifestyles, and pay more money.
    polaris wrote:

    and i'm not sure what gore's plan is but i see a carbon tax as a MUST

    anyone that insists on more gov't taxes is not in their right mind.
    Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
    and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
    over specific principles, goals, and policies.

    http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg

    (\__/)
    ( o.O)
    (")_(")
  • I don't think the average home is 500 square feet. But I would believe that the average home shares at least 1 wall with a neighbour (and possibly has another home above you) and probably doesn't have the luxury of central air conditioning (I bet Gore does). Both of those things lead to significantly less energy use for the average home. Plus anyone know if Al Gore has a pool? I am sure the average home doesn't. Those things contribute to the fact that he is using way more than the average home, even proportionally based on size.


    You're saying the average home in the US is a semi-detached or an apartment?

    I'm not so sure about that.

    I think any way you slice it, this guy is over the top.
    Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
    and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
    over specific principles, goals, and policies.

    http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg

    (\__/)
    ( o.O)
    (")_(")
  • Kel VarnsenKel Varnsen Posts: 1,952
    You're saying the average home in the US is a semi-detached or an apartment?

    I'm not so sure about that.

    I think any way you slice it, this guy is over the top.


    I think it is possible, I am not sure. That is why I hate articles like this. They shock you with a big number but fail to answer any of the follow-up questions anyone with even a bit of a brain might want to know. Things like: Why is it so much higher, How old is Gore's house, does he use gas heating or electric (maybe he is using an electric heat pump and his monthly gas bill is $0), does he have a pool, what do they mean by average households, how does his house compare to houses in similar climates. With hack writers like this one for all we know Al Gore is running a grow-op in his basement, or feeding the homeless with a commercial kitchen, since the writer gives us no background information.
  • SweetAndLowSweetAndLow Posts: 178
    Gore's house is old news. ironic thing is that while Gore rails on about global warming and while Bush refuses to acknowledge it and wants to drill, drill, drill - nature be damned - Bush's ranch is 10x more energy-efficient than Gore's.
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  • brain of cbrain of c Posts: 5,213
    Gore's house is old news. ironic thing is that while Gore rails on about global warming and while Bush refuses to acknowledge it and wants to drill, drill, drill - nature be damned - Bush's ranch is 10x more energy-efficient than Gore's.

    based on what?
  • SweetAndLowSweetAndLow Posts: 178
    Gore's house is old news. ironic thing is that while Gore rails on about global warming and while Bush refuses to acknowledge it and wants to drill, drill, drill - nature be damned - Bush's ranch is 10x more energy-efficient than Gore's.


    PS - The average house size in the U.S. is like 2,100 square feet. Gore's is like 10,000 feet. It's only (OK, I say ONLY facetiously) 5x bigger than the average house, but he uses enough energy to power MUCH more than 7 houses. Another sickening political hypocrite is all he is.
    __________________
    1998: East Troy2; East Lansing
    2000: Noblesville; Auburn Hills; Chicago
    2003: East Troy; Clarkston1
    2004: Toledo; Grand Rapids
    2006: Grand Rapids; Auburn Hills
    2009: Chicago
    2010: Columbus
    2011: East Troy (PJ20), both
    2013: Wrigley Field
    2014: Detroit
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