Al Gore uses 20 TIMES as much electricity as you do

[DancingBear]

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

Yeah, I doubt that the heat loss is that great into a 70 degrees environment. I definitely thought it made a difference in NC when our water heaters were in the garage or crawlspace (but I also did not do any scientific analysis).

 

[Anewman]

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.

Who is bullying you?
All he asks(this thread is about Gore) is to do what you can, that is why I am amazed that some feel HE must live in a totally green and averaged sized home even though he has never advocated(or asked) anyone else do the same. He has never asked or implied that Americans should alter their lifestyles, just given little tips that help the wallet and earth.

Also, a thermostat by itself wont save energy. You have to set it a few degrees cooler in winter and few degrees warmer in summer(than average settings).

And the water heater blanket costs $20 and outlasts a couple water heaters, Gas company in our area gives them out for free. Energy savings vary by climate.

As for Windows, he is mostly talking about new constructions. But if you can afford to replace them, they do pay for themselves over time and make the home more comfortable.

As for cars, he has not asked anyone to dump their SUV and buy a hybrid. He has asked that car companies make better cars, and Americans to consider such cars. Also check tire pressure(can lose about 5% fuel efficiency) and try to avoid unneeded trips.

 

[Andy B]

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.

The next time someone is beating you up I will stand by you and help if however they are just trying to persuede you with words...

 

[BuckNaked]

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.

If there is something that gives off "normal" light, I would consider it. My neighbor has gone to all CFLs, and I can't even stand to walk in her house anymore - it's like being in a hospital corridor.

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.

I addressed this in a previous post.

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.

Unless it's going to save me $100/month or more, it isn't worth it to me, because I'm only going to be in this house for another 12-15 years. And with my current power bill running about $275/month, I doubt that is feasible.

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.

When it's time for me to buy again in a few years, I'll certainly consider a hybrid SUV, but I'm not going to get rid of a 3 year old vehicle now just to go hybrid.

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.

While I see your point, I see no reason to change my lifestyle in pursuit of a "cure" for something that I don't even believe is a catastrophic issue.

 

[Anewman]

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

Does somebody Live in the basement??

We have a large house, I know closing vents to unused rooms cut down my energy bills bigtime. And it cools the house in about 5 minutes when we get home(but I work out of the house now). When all of the vents were open(we even have vents in the garage), it took about half an hour for the house to get comfortable in the summer. Now if I could only get the kids to close the doors behind them.

 

[BuckNaked]

Also, a thermostat by itself wont save energy. You have to set it a few degrees cooler in winter and few degrees warmer in summer(than average settings).

As I said earlier on this thread, I have no problem with people that don't mind being hot in the summer and cold in the winter. I don't happen to be one of those people.

As for Windows, he is mostly talking about new constructions. But if you can afford to replace them, they do pay for themselves over time and make the home more comfortable.

That's great for people that are going to be in their homes long enough for them to pay for them. But unless it's going to cut my bill almost in half, which I find hard to believe, it isn't worth it for us to spend that kind of money.

 

[BuckNaked]

Does somebody Live in the basement??

No, but my kids are down there quite a bit, so if it's OK with you, I would like to keep it warm for them.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

I don't consider investing money into alternative fuels is a wate of billions. Even your fearless leader has made the statement that we are to dependent on oil and need to cut back and invest in alternative sources of energy. Whether he does anything about it will be another thing.

Energy Conservation - isn't a new thing - I can remember 15 years ago in grade school being taught about recycling, turning off the lights, not letting the water run while I brushed my teeth, how styrafoam doesn't desinergrate and all that jazz.

~Amanda

Nothing against these things, just spare me the "sky is falling" rhetoric by limousine liberals such as Mr. Gore.

And let the spending and investing for alternate fuels be over the course of time by capitalists, not a rushed government boondogle of tax payer funds over the panic of alarmists, again such as Mr. Gore

To other posters, I really don't care about Gore's politics (in this case). I think he would be a very weak candidate to run for President again. IMO, he would be doing the GOP a favor.

 

[Anewman]

Unless it's going to save me $100/month or more, it isn't worth it to me, because I'm only going to be in this house for another 12-15 years. And with my current power bill running about $275/month, I doubt that is feasible.

While I see your point, I see no reason to change my lifestyle in pursuit of a "cure" for something that I don't even believe is a catastrophic issue.

Your math is fine, but you forgot to figure any resale value that it may add to the home. Also you are doing the math with TODAYS energy prices, none of us know how much you will be paying for energy 10 years from now.

You dont have to "believe" anything, that is why he has tried to promote mostly things that make economic sense more so than just "GREEN" sense.

 

[Anewman]

No, but my kids are down there quite a bit, so if it's OK with you, I would like to keep it warm for them.

I apologize if you felt my question was a form of bullying.

 

[Anewman]

To other posters, I really don't care about Gore's politics (in this case). I think he would be a very weak candidate to run for President again. IMO, he would be doing the GOP a favor.

As a democrat that understands that neither Hillary or Obama have a chance in winning, Gore may actually be our best bet. He is giving them a run for their money right now, and he probably wont even run.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

As a democrat that understands that neither Hillary or Obama have a chance in winning, Gore may actually be our best bet. He is giving them a run for their money right now, and he probably wont even run.

I agree about Hillary or Obama. Who is there?

Even as a staunch Republican, I'd like to see a strong Dem candidate (well maybe not too strong
)

 

[DancingBear]

Does somebody Live in the basement??

She hasn't found me yet.

 

[DancingBear]

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.

That's probably because your A/C unit was designed for pre-global warming capacity.

 

[brerrabbit]

I agree about Hillary or Obama. Who is there?

Even as a staunch Republican, I'd like to see a strong Dem candidate (well maybe not too strong
)

A friend sent me this so I thought I would share it with yall,

"Here's my take on the 2008 presidential race. There's no doubt
history is in the making. We may have either the first Black
president, the first Woman president or the first Mormon president.
Why not kill three birds with one stone and elect Gladys Knight and
call it a day?"

 

[Galahad]

"Here's my take on the 2008 presidential race. There's no doubt
history is in the making. We may have either the first Black
president, the first Woman president or the first Mormon president.
Why not kill three birds with one stone and elect Gladys Knight and
call it a day?"

 

[BuckNaked]

She hasn't found me yet.

Oh, so you're the one that has been leaving the wet towels on the bathroom floor down there!! Both of the kids kept saying "It wasn't me!!", and I didn't believe them!


Do we have a spanking smiley?

That's probably because your A/C unit was designed for pre-global warming capacity.

You owe me a monitor - just bring it upstairs when you come up for dinner tonight.

 

[beachblanket]

As a democrat that understands that neither Hillary or Obama have a chance in winning, Gore may actually be our best bet. He is giving them a run for their money right now, and he probably wont even run.

I'm intrigued that Kerry (who was presumably seen as a massive improvement on Gore back in 2004) doesn't make any of these DIS DNC short lists. I guess he's still apparently on the blacklist for "blowing" the election.

 

[Galahad]

Oh, so you're the one that has been leaving the wet towels on the bathroom floor down there!! Both of the kids kept saying "It wasn't me!!", and I didn't believe them!


Do we have a spanking smiley?



You owe me a monitor - just bring it upstairs when you come up for dinner tonight.

Is he in the basement - or the attic?

Bedroom camera nets voyeurism charge

Associated Press

WARSAW, Ind. -- A man was arrested on a voyeurism charge Tuesday after police said he confessed to installing a video camera in the attic above a bedroom.


William J. Cusick, 45, of Leesburg was arrested after he confessed to placing a "pin hole" style video camera above the master bedroom of a home in Chapman Lake, about halfway between Fort Wayne and South Bend, the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department said in a news release.
Cusick was later released on $10,000 bond, said Sgt. Steve Barnhart, an officer at the county jail.
A woman who answered the phone at a number listed in Cusick's name hung up when The Associated Press called seeking comment Tuesday.
A contractor found the camera in the attic of the newly built home on Monday after the residents complained of a noise in the cold air return above the master bedroom, police said.
"Over the weekend, when the heating system kicked on, it started rattling in there, and they were like 'That's not supposed to happen,' " Kosciusko County Sheriff's Sgt. Chad Hill said.
Cusick installed a satellite television system in the home Friday, authorities said. He allegedly left the house during the installation to buy a camera and tape recorder from a Warsaw store.
Cusick contacted the residents about returning to the house on Tuesday to make adjustments on the satellite system with the intention of picking up the videotape, authorities said.
"We just sat and waited for him to drive up," Hill said.

 

[DawnCt1]

What took you long to post this. This has been on the free republic for some time.

If conservation and the environment are really so near and dear to your heart, why didn't you post it? Should assume that it would have been too painful for you to give President Bush credit for conserving?