Al Gore uses 20 TIMES as much electricity as you do

[Anewman]

Well he just won an academy award for a documentary which appeals to people to change their lifestyles.

What kinds of "lifestyle" changes does that movie encourage????

Please pick out the BIGGEST one you can think of.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

What kinds of "lifestyle" changes does that movie encourage????

Please pick out the BIGGEST one you can think of.

If we ALL reduce our energy consumption, etc...

 

[disneyfan67]

The silly thing is that you want Al Gore to be "GREEN" by your standards, he is just being green by the standards he has been advocating nothing more and nothing less. Unless you can show where he has advocated the cutback of "southern mansions", I dont see any hypocrisy. It is not his fault you feel he is the face of global warming.

Like it or not he is the face of the Global warming issue in this country and it has nothing do with what I feel. It's his recent actions in the past 7 years or so and he's been quite outspoken about it. Wasn't he the one who was up there getting an Oscar for a Documentary on Global warming? He's been on just about every tv program and magazine that will allow him to share his views. To be honest, I don't think anyone one person needs three homes, let alone someone who says he's concerned about the fate of the Earth due to Global warming.
Don't get me wrong, I believe in cutting back some for the sake of the environment and our country's best interests. I'm quite outspoken against the use of private jets, huge limousines/SUV's, and gluttony in general. I find shows like the "Oscars" to be a perfect example of gluttony, excess, and completely unnecessary. The producers of the show tried to spin how much greener the Oscars were than in years past, but I don't think anyone was seriously buying that. You can put as much lipstick and perfume on a pig as you can and call it a princess, but in reality it's still a swine. YMMV.

 

[Anewman]

If we ALL reduce our energy consumption, etc...

Well not as specific as I hoped, but do any of us know if he has "reduced" his energy consumption?


This article does not exactly show what the power bills were 5 years ago, I am just saying that to date nobody has shown his actions to contradict his ACTUAL words. Everybody just applies there own standards of what a real environmentalist would do, instead of focusing on his message that if everyone just does these 10 little(non lifestyle changing) things...

 

[iloveboardwalk]

Well not as specific as I hoped, but do any of us know if he has "reduced" his energy consumption?


This article does not exactly show what the power bills were 5 years ago, I am just saying that to date nobody has shown his actions to contradict his ACTUAL words. Everybody just applies there own standards of what a real environmentalist would do, instead of focusing on his message that if everyone just does these 10 little(non lifestyle changing) things...

I think most average people will look at his lavish lifestyle and think to themselves that even if his energy usage has been reduced, he is STILL living at an excess. It's just laughable for him to seriously ask us to reduce from his private jet.

 

[DancingBear]

I DO recyle, I DO use low energy lightbulbs, and I DO keep my thermostat/hot water at energy efficient levels. As I replace appliances and cars I switch to more energy efficient ones (especially since I'm approaching the end of carpool years, so my next car will NOT be a minivan) but I certainly cannot do much more at this time without making drastic changes in my lifestyle.

Okay. Do you think Gore is asking you to do so?

 

[Anewman]

I think most average people will look at his lavish lifestyle and think to themselves that even if his energy usage has been reduced, he is STILL living at an excess. It's just laughable for him to seriously ask us to reduce from his private jet.

What if that jet had solar panels?

 

[Chloe'sMom]

I haven't seen the documentary but from the talk shows he's been on it does not seem like he is asking for much.

1. energy efficient light bults - 2 for $4.
2. Programmable thermostat - $35.00
3. Water Heater Blanket- - $25.00
4. Recycle - free
5. Energy Efficient Windows - $$$
6. Hybrid Car or alternative fuels, or walking or car pull.

The most expensive thing is energy efficient windows.

The rest of this just sounds like Whining from the have nots who are against him politically.

~Amanda

 

[LuvDuke]

Well not as specific as I hoped, but do any of us know if he has "reduced" his energy consumption?


This article does not exactly show what the power bills were 5 years ago, I am just saying that to date nobody has shown his actions to contradict his ACTUAL words. Everybody just applies there own standards of what a real environmentalist would do, instead of focusing on his message that if everyone just does these 10 little(non lifestyle changing) things...

Ever stop to think there's a good reason why so many pertinent facts were left out? Maybe it's because the reality wouldn't rouse the rabble half as much as the bare-bones story?

 

[LuvDuke]

The rest of this just sounds like Whining from the have nots who are against him politically.

~Amanda

And if it stays that way, this will be the last you'll hear of this group and their story.

 

[Galahad]

I haven't seen the documentary but from the talk shows he's been on it does not seem like he is asking for much.

1. energy efficient light bults - 2 for $4.
2. Programmable thermostat - $35.00
3. Water Heater Blanket- - $25.00
4. Recycle - free
5. Energy Efficient Windows - $$$
6. Hybrid Car or alternative fuels, or walking or car pull.

The most expensive thing is energy efficient windows.

The rest of this just sounds like Whining from the have nots who are against him politically.

~Amanda

We do most of those things. We'll wait on the Hybrid cars - though I'm looking forward to getting one or some other alternative fuel. They just aren't cost effective yet and don't get that much better efficiency than our regular old Honda's. I AM really looking forward to true alternative fuels. Massive car pooling would, IMO, have unintended economic consequences in most parts of the country.

 

[Christopher Robin]

1. energy efficient light bults - 2 for $4.
2. Programmable thermostat - $35.00
3. Water Heater Blanket- - $25.00
4. Recycle - free
5. Energy Efficient Windows - $$$
6. Hybrid Car or alternative fuels, or walking or car pull.

~Amanda

You forgot lucky number 7. Kyoto Accord

That may be just a tad more expensive than windows.

 

[BuckNaked]

I haven't seen the documentary but from the talk shows he's been on it does not seem like he is asking for much.

1. energy efficient light bults - 2 for $4.
2. Programmable thermostat - $35.00
3. Water Heater Blanket- - $25.00
4. Recycle - free
5. Energy Efficient Windows - $$$
6. Hybrid Car or alternative fuels, or walking or car pull.

The most expensive thing is energy efficient windows.

The rest of this just sounds like Whining from the have nots who are against him politically.

~Amanda

1. I don't like fluorescent lights, and I don't want them in my home, energy efficient or not.

2. Programmable thermostat - we had one in our previous home, and we found that it did nothing to save electricity, especially in the summer. Not a huge deal to buy and put in, but if it doesn't accomplish anything, what's the point?

3. Water heater blanket - I would probably do this if it could be shown to make an appreciable difference in power usage. Otherwise, again, what's the point?

4. Recycle - we've been doing that for years and years.

5. Energey efficient windows - if I happen to win $15,000-$20,000 in the near future, I'll consider it. Or we'll take a deluxe trip to WDW.

6. Hybrid car or alternative fuels - When they make a hybrid that can meet our towing needs and not be cost prohibitive, I'll be happy to consider it. As for alternative fuels, my Explorer is a flex fuel vehicle. I used the flex-fuel for a month, and my fuel costs were significantly higher. The flex-fuel cost more than regular gasoline, and my mileage was noticeably lower.

I'm not against people doing whatever they want vis a vis a green life, I'm just against those same people trying to bully everyone else into doing it too.

 

[Anewman]

Massive car pooling would, IMO, have unintended economic consequences in most parts of the country.

Yes and no.

If more Americans save gas, money, and time by car pooling, wouldn't they have more time and money to pump into the economy?

 

[Galahad]

That may be just a tad more expensive than windows.

I don't know. Vista is over $250, isn't it?

 

[DancingBear]

1. I don't like fluorescent lights, and I don't want them in my home, energy efficient or not.

Some of the new warmer flourescents actually put out a pleasant light.

2. Programmable thermostat - we had one in our previous home, and we found that it did nothing to save electricity, especially in the summer.

How sure are you about that? Did you scientifically account for the variations in outside temperature from one measuring period to the next?

3. Water heater blanket - I would probably do this if it could be shown to make an appreciable difference in power usage.

Surely it makes a difference if your water heater is located in an unheated basement or garage--it's just insulation.

 

[DancingBear]

And if it stays that way, this will be the last you'll hear of this group and their story.

Unfortunately not true. It's now part of Al Gore wingnut lore, just like "I invented the internet."

 

[BuckNaked]

How sure are you about that? Did you scientifically account for the variations in outside temperature from one measuring period to the next?

Oh yeah, I did all sorts of scientific experiments!

We went from coming home to a comfortable temperature where the AC would come on and go off periodically to an uncomfortably warm house where the AC ran pretty much non-stop until a couple of hours after sundown. A dollar or two change in the power bill, plus the pleasure of a hot house for the first two hours after we got home from work. No thanks.

Surely it makes a difference if your water heater is located in an unheated basement or garage--it's just insulation.

Then I guess it wouldn't make a difference, since our basement is heated.

 

[Andy B]

What if that jet had solar panels?

So he should not comment on this subject because he is too rich and consuming more than the 'Average American' this sounds a little communist. redistribution of wealth.

It seems that Al gore does not own a private jet, he chartered one, which per person per mile certainly produces more harm than a scheduled flight. Carbon offsetting was paid on his journeys. I too am sceptical regarding the efficacy of carbon offsetting but if having to produce emissions than this is the way currently there is to mitigate this it seems.

As a good American he has made money and has more posessions than most, if he has reduced his net carbon emissions through changes to his life then I cannot see it is too hypocritical to try to get others to change also. I do not believe he has said he was perfect, (a politician ) but he has not advocated a complete lifestyle change for all.

For those who have suggested he should have knocked down his old house(s) and built a new greener one I would have thought that this would be wastfull as well as not being a good example for those who cannot just rip an old one up and build a new one. Perhaps a better example is to make changes to an existing property to make it more efficient and reduce it's carbon footprint.

As an ignorant outsider from acress the pond who has not political affiliation in either camp it does seem a shame that partisanship gets in the way of a serious issue debate.

 

[wvrevy]

1. I don't like fluorescent lights, and I don't want them in my home, energy efficient or not.

They make other low-energy lights that are not flourescents. For example, LED lights. They are more expensive right now, but they use considerably less power and last considerably longer than standard incandescant bulbs.

2. Programmable thermostat - we had one in our previous home, and we found that it did nothing to save electricity, especially in the summer. Not a huge deal to buy and put in, but if it doesn't accomplish anything, what's the point?

This only helps if you program it correctly. If you turn the thermostat down at night while people are in bed and while people are at work and school, you can save quite a bit.

3. Water heater blanket - I would probably do this if it could be shown to make an appreciable difference in power usage. Otherwise, again, what's the point?

According to the US Department of Energy's website, "Unless your water heater's storage tank already has a high R-value of insulation (at least R-24), adding insulation to it can reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45%. This will save you around 4%–9% in water heating costs."

4. Recycle - we've been doing that for years and years.

5. Energey efficient windows - if I happen to win $15,000-$20,000 in the near future, I'll consider it. Or we'll take a deluxe trip to WDW.

You have to invest up-front and know that the money will eventually be returned through improvements in energy efficieny costing you less on a monthly basis.

6. Hybrid car or alternative fuels - When they make a hybrid that can meet our towing needs and not be cost prohibitive, I'll be happy to consider it. As for alternative fuels, my Explorer is a flex fuel vehicle. I used the flex-fuel for a month, and my fuel costs were significantly higher. The flex-fuel cost more than regular gasoline, and my mileage was noticeably lower.

Hybrid trucks. Seems they've got the "towing" thing taken care of. As for the "flex-fuel"...yes, it is a bit more expensive. Not much that can be done about that at the moment.

I'm not against people doing whatever they want vis a vis a green life, I'm just against those same people trying to bully everyone else into doing it too.

Nobody is trying to "bully" anyone into doing anything. That said, my making those changes in my life - by themselves - isn't going to make a big enough difference to solve all of our energy problems. It takes a collective effort by a large number of people. I'm sorry, but if we are going to solve the energy problems we have, it is going to require everybody doing their part, not just those of us that "agree" there is a problem.