Al Gore's Personal Energy Consumption.


June 18, 2008






For Further Information, Contact:
Adam King, 615.383.6431
adam@tennesseepolicy.org

Energy Guzzled by Al Gore's Home in Past Year Could Power 232 U.S. Homes for a Month
Gore's personal electricity consumption up 10%, despite "energy-efficient" home renovations

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

"A man's 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, Gore's 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 Gore's Nashville home guzzled 20 times more electricity than the average American household.

After the Tennessee Center for Policy Research exposed Gore's 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 home's 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 Gore's actions prove that he views climate change not as a serious problem, but as a money-making opportunity," Johnson said. "Gore is exploiting the public's 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 Gore's home energy use through a public records request to the Nashville Electric Service.


The Tennessee Center for Policy Research is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization committed to achieving a freer, more prosperous Tennessee through the ideas of liberty. Visit TCPR online at: www.tennesseepolicy.org.

Comments:

I will have to research on this some more. Just looking up the Tennessee Center for Policy Research and their CEO on Sourcewatch.org gave me this tidbit...

"Before founding TCPR, Johnson was a policy analyst at the right-wing-funded National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF), the research arm of the National Taxpayers Union (NTU). [9]

In July 2004, while with NTUF, Johnson co-authored the economic policy study "Kerry's Fiscal Agenda 'Makeover' Won't Improve Budget Picture for Taxpayers" on Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's spending recommendations.

On an undated "Statement of Concern for Freedom in Russia" posted on the NTU website, the signatories—among which are Johnson, representing TCPR; Grover Norquist, of the conservative, tobacco industry-related Americans for Tax Reform; and Leonard Liggio of the conservative Atlas Economic Research Foundation—identify themselves as "representatives, of liberal think-tanks and movements".

So their claim as "non-partisan" don't look very valid. But I am certainly curious about the validity of their points. Still doesn't change the fact that the concept of decreasing our energy use is good for the environment and decreases our financial support of middle-eastern dictators who are horrible human rights violators. Rather we believe or agree on global warming or not, we certainly all know that the acts of those we purchase our fossil fuels from are unacceptable, and the less financial power we give them, and less we need to rely on their products, the more we can pressure them to stop volating human rights.

comment by ekyprogressive on June 24, 2008 8:52 PM ()

Too funny!! Lol hehehe

reply by texastar on June 25, 2008 5:57 AM ()

Aint much we can do about the cows Except eat more beef...

I know, peta would not approve

reply by ekyprogressive on June 24, 2008 10:22 PM ()

I have had people tell me that too about the calling and going into weather. That is really neat that Adam likes that field too. I agree we don't need to do business with these people. I even saw something on the news about cows causing a rise in methane gas from their excrements.

reply by texastar on June 24, 2008 10:16 PM ()

Adam is all about the weather too, I think he missed his calling by not going into that field. Yea, we do have fluctuations, and yea global warming doesn't always discuss things like solar phenomenon, natural occurances (volcanic expulsions of high CO2 levels) and the like. But those are not controllable by us. Still though, for the skeptics, I say just knowing the kinds of people we get these fuels from is arguement enough against their use.

reply by ekyprogressive on June 24, 2008 9:33 PM ()

Hi James Don't you think Gore should practice what he preaches? Just wondering. B

reply by brian45 on June 24, 2008 9:05 PM ()

I agree that we need to get away from the middle east and purchasing fossil fuels. We need to use our own resources and do things differently. Something that I have been watching closely and may/should keep a journal on is the high temps. for the day in history. I LOVE weather and enjoy just watching the weather channel (what can I say I'm weird Lol) Anyway in watching that and our local news/weather there were even higher temps. 100 years ago here where we live and even before the 1900's so, that to me proves that our weather for one goes by patterns. Some decades are hotter/cooler than others. Also you might want to check-out Newsweek Global Cooling article in 1975. They said in 20 years we would be in an *Ice Age*. Thanks for your comment James.

reply by texastar on June 24, 2008 9:02 PM ()