Do as I say, not as I do
Posted by BrianAh, I do love it when prominent individuals tell us how to live our lives - directives that often include sacrifice and hardship - while not subjecting themselves to the same restraints.
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.
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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.
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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.
If only the global warmitarians would wake up and realize that their spiritual leader isn’t doing all he could do, such as live in a modest, energy thrifty home…
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June 18th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Your the big “market is god” guy. Why shouldn’t he have a big home, he earned the money? By chastising him, are you not being as hypocritical as he is?
June 18th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Hey, if someone is fortunate enough to get rich then by all means, enjoy it. But Al Gore is lecturing all of us about how we are responsible for destroying the planet (and making his riches doing so) even though he doesn’t make sacrifices to curtail his own “carbon footprint.” If he *really* thought being a conspicuous user of energy harmed the environment then he wouldn’t use so much of it himself.
A similar example - if someone is gay I have no problem with that. If a television preacher, though, makes a career (and a lot of money) condemning homosexual activity only to get caught in the arms of another man then he is rightly deemed a hypocrite and excoriated in the media. Gore is no different.
You’re freely entitled to do whatever you please within the bounds of legality. However, if you don’t “practice what you preach” then you deserve a good chastising.
June 18th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
The hypocrisy is simply hilarious.
If the situation is so dire, then I expect to see these “Hollywood” spokesmen making some real sacrifice. No, driving a Prius is not a sacrifice. Buying offsetting carbon credits is not a sacrifice. Driving a scooter, bicycle, or walking is what I might consider a sacrifice.
Good post Brian.
June 18th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
OK, did I just read that his monthly utility bill is $16,533???
Oh my goodness that is alot of power.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Actually, Matt that’s only Gore’s electricity bill.
Gore consumed an average of $1,080 per month of Natural gas (in 2006) as well (http://tinyurl.com/6f7wyf). He has to keep his pool heated after all.
And this is only one of Gore’s three homes.
Talmadge East, we criticize Gore not for his success and energy usage but for not ‘walking the walk’. Gore tells us to turn up our thermostats…but he obviously doesn’t do the same.
Note Gore is unlike Ed Begley, Jr. who consumes about $20 a month of expensive LA electricity for a family of three. Further Begley owns several windfarms which means he’s actually produces more electricity than he consume. Begley leads by example…even if he’s a nut.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Might as well plug a YouTube video I uploaded awhile back…
“Al Gore segment on Hannity’s America showing the eco-warrior taking a luxury private jet in late August. Other hypocrisy also exposed.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VV309lbB8c
July 21st, 2008 at 10:28 pm
[...] when it was widely reported that the high priest of the global warmitarian movement, Al Gore, used 232 times more power than the average home there was a deafening silence from left wing Democrats. Why? That was a prime example of rank [...]