Another Inconvenient Truth

Most of the light bulbs in my house are compact fluorescent bulbs. I own an electric weedeater and, at a cost approaching $200, just purchased an electric lawn mower. I'm looking into a solar system on my roof, although the cost may be prohibitive. In November, when I was looking at new cars, I gave serious consideration to a hybrid Ford Escape.

I'm all about reasonable conservation measures. I'm all about renewable energy, specifically solar, and nuclear. I believe these things not because of any fear of so-called global warming, but because there's no reason to pollute the environment if we can reasonably avoid doing so.

So what say you to this?

Gore’s mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).

In his documentary, the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home.

The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh—more than 20 times the national average.

Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh—guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore’s average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.

Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore’s energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.

Gore’s extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore’s mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.

Conservation is just for us peons. We should listen to our betters.

Hat tip to Instapundit (see blogroll at left).

Update, 2/27/07:

Al Gore responds to the item on his utility bill, by stressing his carbon-neutral approach...

Capt. Ed is unimpressed with Gore's response: "Purchasing offsets only means that Gore doesn't want to make the same kind of sacrifices that he's asking other families to make. He's using a modern form of indulgences in order to avoid doing the penance that global-warming activism demands of others. It means that the very rich can continue to suck up energy and raise the price and the demand for electricity and natural gas, while families struggle with their energy costs and face increasing government regulation and taxation. It's a regressive plan that Gore's supporters would decry if the same kind of scheme were applied to a national sales tax, for instance."

In contrast, President Bush is a veritable ecologist.

Again, Instapundit.

Update #2, 2/28/07: Someone's getting rich off of this "carbon offset" business. Gawd I love capitalism.

Update #3, 3/1/07: I've read a lot lately that carbon offsets actually increase energy usage--and hence cause more pollution. This one's from the Economist.

Update #4, 3/3/07: Here are some more details about Gore's energy usage. BTW, it turns out that he purchases his eco-indulgences--I mean, carbon offsets--from a company that he himself set up! All he's doing is buying stock in his own company, a company he no doubt hopes to enrich him and his family! I do love capitalism, but not hypocrisy. So, those details:

What's maybe even more interesting is the gas bill, reported to average $1,080 a month over the last year (none of these figures, first released by a Tennessee free-market think tank, have been disputed). (calculations omitted here--Darren)

One cubic metre of natural gas emits 1.891 kg of CO2 (see page 13), so this represents a total of 27,200*1.891 = 51435.2 kg (51.4 tonnes) of CO2 emission.

By striking coincidence, this is within a whisker of total CO2 emissions per average US household - including household operations, automotive uses, and "indirect emissions" - which amount to about 118,000 pounds (53,636 kg).

The point bears repeating. Mr. Gore's natural gas-based emissions alone account for as much warming as the total due to electricity, heating, transport and "indirect" factors of an average American household.

Wow.

Update #5, 3/17/07: It just gets worse for Gore, who made a ton of money off a mine.

Al Gore Jr. received more than $500,000 in royalties from the owners of zinc mines who held mineral leases on his farm near Carthage, Tenn. Now the mines have a new owner and are scheduled to reopen later this year.

Before the mines closed in 2003, they emitted thousands of pounds of toxic substances and several times, the water discharged from the mines into nearby rivers had levels of toxins above what was legal.

Keep talkin', Al.

Update #6, 3/18/07: This story just gets worse and worse. Death threats and the like for merely pointing out that Al Gore is a hypocrite. No one challenges the facts. The left isn't upset that Gore uses so much energy, they're upset that it was pointed out. My contempt for these people knows no bounds.

Update #7, 3/18/07: There's at least one Brit who sees the same hypocrisy I do.