04 Aug 2017 Al Gore’s Residence Burns Through 21 Times More Electricity than the Average American Home Despite Green Renovations
Quarter-Million-Dollar Energy-Efficient Overhaul Underperforms, But Others Still Urged to Follow Former Vice President’s Example
Star of An Inconvenient Sequel Wants People to Make Changes “They Simply Can’t Afford,” Says Critic
Nashville, TN / Washington, D.C. – As Al Gore uses his alarmist An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power documentary to promote the use of so-called renewable energy sources, a National Center for Public Policy Research report on energy use at the residence of the former vice president shows that he fails to practice what he preaches.
After Gore’s home was found in 2007 to devour as much as 20 times more electricity than the typical American household by now-National Center Senior Fellow Drew Johnson, the former vice president’s property underwent a massively expensive environmentally-friendly facelift. Green upgrades included 33 solar panels, a geothermal heating system, new windows, a switch to potentially dangerous compact fluorescent lamp bulbs, updated insulation and other ostensibly energy-saving home improvements.
Despite the time and cost associated with the renovations, Gore’s home now consumes more electricity today than before the green overhaul.
The National Center’s “Al Gore’s Inconvenient Reality” report reveals:
- An estimated $250,000-$500,000 was spent on green improvement – including $60,000 for rooftop solar panels, $90,000 for a geothermal heating system and $55,000 on a rainwater retention system.
- Gore’s solar panels only generate a meager 5.7% of his energy needs – the equivalent of only 21 days of his annual electricity usage.
- Despite his energy-efficient renovations, Gore’s home burns more electricity in a year than the typical American family uses in 21 years.
- Electricity consumption between August 2016 and July 2017 at Gore’s property measured over 10,000 kWh more than a decade ago.
- During the September 2017 billing cycle Gore gobbled more energy in one month than 34 average U.S. households.
- Gore pays the Nashville Electric Service (NES) a $432 monthly premium for a “Green Power Switch” scheme that funds alternative energy sources. The electricity that flows to Gore’s home, however, is comprised of 87.1 percent fossil fuels and nuclear power, according to the Tennessee Valley Authority.
“All the money Gore spent to make his home more energy-efficient made very little impact on his actual energy consumption,” said Johnson, the author of the report. “After paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to lower his electricity consumption, the property still burns through more electricity in a year than 21 typical American homes.”
Using NES figures, the National Center found the 10,070-square-foot 20-room mansion, pool and security gate on Gore’s 2.09-acre estate outside Nashville used 230,889 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity over the last 12 months. This is 21.3 times more than what the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates the typical American household uses.
Gore claims to offset his massive energy consumption with carbon credits, but National Center experts believe this hardly absolves him of responsibility.
“Buying energy offsets today is like buying indulgences from the church during the Middle Ages. The environmental establishment may forgive him, but that won’t wash away his environmental sins,” said National Center President David A. Ridenour. “Al Gore continues to push an agenda on the American people they simply can’t afford. They should tell him with a loud and clear voice, ‘you first.'”
On the promotional website for Gore’s An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power documentary, which opens today, people are urged to “lower your carbon footprint” and advocate for renewable energy use. It asks people to sign a “Pledge to#BeInconvenient” that commits them to “switch my home… to 100% renewable energy,” persuade others “to pursue climate solutions” and see his documentary.
“Clearly, Gore is unwilling to practice what he preaches,” Ridenour said.
The National Center for Public Policy Research, founded in 1982, is a non-partisan, free-market, independent conservative think-tank. Ninety-four percent of its support comes from individuals, less than four percent from foundations and less than two percent from corporations. It receives over 350,000 individual contributions a year from over 60,000 active recent contributors. Tax-deductible donations to support the National Center’s programs are greatly appreciated and can be made here. Sign up for email updates here. Follow us on Twitter at @NationalCenter for general announcements. To be alerted to upcoming media appearances by National Center staff, follow our media appearances Twitter account at @NCPPRMedia.
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