Al Gore is making environmentalists and tree huggers smile with pride over the latest news that Al Gore not only talks a great talk, but has the walk of a GREEN walk.
The Gore family purchased an 80 year old 10,000 square foot home in 2002, that also houses offices for both, Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, in which they started making a series of steps in energy and environmental improvements.
We all remember when the Right Wing groups (TCPR, AEI) tried attacking the Gores on energy use, making false claims on the amount the home used, trying to claim it was a higher amount and that he didn’t practice wise energy and environmental standards, which all actual reports showed to be incorrect claims. That the Gores actually used less than the average Tennessee home and that 100 percent energy used was all from Renewable resources. But the timing was interesting. The Gore’s had been remodelling the home all along. Ripping out floors and putting in radiant heating, replacing all the windows, lightbulbs and installing geothermal heating, but it was when they finally got their Association to change their position on Solar Panels, that the Gore’s were finally able to add Solar Paneling to the home and they would be nearing the completed remodel when the Right Wing groups made this claim.
So it really was pretty funny when the News Networks all around, from CNN’s Headline News to The Daily Buzz tv, tried to give credit to the February attacks of TCPR for the remodel job the Gore’s completed this year.
The Gore’s home previously had already used less than average energy,
” (Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi), the average is 15,447 kwh per household and 19.83 kwh per square foot. Gore’s consumption is 19.43 kwh per square foot, which is less than the average.”
, and the energy that was used, was from 100 percent renewable resources.
But now that they have made these successful renovations, they have decreased their energy use even more.
Gore’s improvements cut the home’s summer electrical consumption by 11 percent compared with a year ago, according to utility records reviewed by The Associated Press. Most Nashville homes used 20 percent to 30 percent more electricity during the same period because of a record heat wave.
Electricity usage at the home remains well above regional averages, but Gore’s power consumption decreased by 6,890 kilowatt hours, or 11 percent, between June and August, despite the heat wave.
Gore’s electric use increased again after he had to take his solar panels off-line in August so his new geothermal system could be integrated into the system. But his natural gas use has dropped 93 percent in the three months since the geothermal pump was activated.
A hat tip to you sir.
So it seemed fitting to applaud Gore’s completed renovations on his Tennessee mansion – we talked about his plans here. What’s new is that Gore has gotten LEED gold certification from the Green Building Council – the 10,000-square-foot home is one of only 14 in the U.S. to achieve this rating, and the only home in Tennessee that’s gotten any certification at all, according to the Associated Press. (There is also a platinum standard) Solar panels, solar roof fans, a rainwater collection system, and geothermal heating were all installed at the house. All incandescent lights – including those on the Christmas tree! – were replaced with either compact fluorescents or light-emitting diodes.
