How small and energy efficient is Gore's house? Anybody know?

[pnwmom]

I don't have a favorite candidate yet --though I'm leaning toward someone other than Edwards -- but it seems to me that trashing Edwards for not having an environmentally correct house is unfair. Why aren't we hearing about any other candidates' houses?

Kudos to President Jimmy Carter for having the foresight, decades ago, put solar panels on the White House. Naturally, St. Ronnie took them down.

[sandnsea]

1. ALL

Is that such a complicated word to understand. ALL Democratic leaders need to hire real green building consultants and spend what it takes to make their homes energy independent. ALL of them.

[pnwmom]

14. That makes sense.

[RiverStone]

33. For those with lots of $$$

There is NO excuse not to hire a green building consultant.

For the rest of us (myself included), it may mean taking little steps at a time...but at least we can check out cool links like this:

All for FREE :)

http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/


peace~

[Taverner]

2. Why does it even matter?

I mean, if you want to go by greenness...Dubya's ranch in Crawford would win top prize.

It produces it's own electricity through solar panels
All of the water is reclaimed water
It even has a biodiesel plant onsite

[snowbear]

4. I agree -- why does it matter? Besides... Gore isn't running.

...Edwards is!

Rock on Edwards ... Obama... Richardson... ...and especially Clark -- (if he runs)

[pnwmom]

9. Gore's not running, but he's certainly campaigning --

against global warming.

So I'm asking -- why are so many DUers trashing Edwards for the excesses of his house, and not asking questions about any of the other candidates?And whether Gore is running for President or not, he is campaigning against global warming. Why isn't the issue of his house just as relevant as Edwards seems to be?

[pnwmom]

7. It matters because of the numerous Edwards bashing posts like this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=70207

[snowbear]

8. Oh... thanks pnwmom..

I tend to ignore the Edwards bashing posts..

I figure if they're bashing someone like him, or Obama, or Clark... then they are likely.. you know....

... these guys >>

[pnwmom]

10. By the way, Larissa, I agree with you that this time around

we seem to have an abundance of strong candidates! Isn't it wonderful?

[sandnsea]

15. Why is that bashing?

Do you have posts that show that particular poster makes a habit of bashing Edwards?

We need to get serious about changing the way we live. The Edwards home has brought a lot of issues to the forefront. If the Edwards were really smart, they'd seek out a group of green consultants and just admit they didn't dig as much as they could have - like a lot of Americans. They'd put up a separate web site, and let America participate as they do everything they can to green up that house. That's not bashing, that's leading and that's what the country is looking for.

[pnwmom]

19. It was Edwards-bashing, IMO, because Edwards was the only one

picked on. And there have been dozens of these Edwards-house threads lately.

I bet none of the candidates' homes has a very small environmental footprint, except for Kucinich (who certainly has a small home, but I've never heard anything about its energy efficiency.)

[marions ghost]

22. Edwards is the only one

who has built a house in the last year. And that's why people are so disappointed in what he built in the year in which it would have been very smart to go green as mucha s possible. Edwards had a chance to at least point in the right direction. He wasn't retrofitting something already existing. He could have built anything. It's not exactly Versailles, but it sure is not most people's idea of a "house." Edwards has to own this, and he needs to know how many of his environmentally-concerned constituency feel about it. Then move on, but the point should be made, ESPECIALLY if he has a chance to be the next president.

[sandnsea]

23. It's because he built a new home

That's all. I agree with you on the environmental footprint of all the candidates though, all Democrats. We should see if one of the environmental groups will monitor the campaigns, DC, and elected officials for their green effort. I also don't think writing carbon checks is sufficient. More tangible efforts are needed.

The funny thing about the threads is that 2/3 of them have been started by people defending his house, which is never a good idea when one of these minor blips first hit. Fight back, but don't feed the frenzy.

[pnwmom]

26. I agree -- writing carbon checks isn't sufficient.

It's just a way for the very wealthy to get around the changes we should all be trying to make.

[RiverStone]

25. The point is...

Be it Edwards or anyone - in politics or not - building BIG and wastefully is harmful to everyone and speeds up Global Warming; for our children more then us, and their children more then them.

Who cares who's house it is??? What matters is all of us, in all walks of life, need to be mindful of earth in the balance.


http://www.climatecrisis.net

[Porcupine]

30. Hey!! It was a greenwash bashing post. My post thank you.

The fact that it was John Edwards that stuck his foot in it first is incidental. Climate Change will be a major issue in YOUR life come September 15th of this year. Count on it.

[mondo joe]

3. There was a USA Today piece bashing Gore of all sorts of anti-green

activity. Then there was a correction - a lot of it - almost all of it in fact - turned out to be false.

But I did notice that the house size was not corrected - and the Nashville House was said to be 10,000-square-foot, 20-room, eight-bathroom home in Nashville. He has an additional 4,000 sq ft house.

With regard to energy efficiency, "The Gores have signed up for every “green power” option their utilities make available and are in the process of adding photovoltaic panels to their home."

The corrections are here: http://desmogblog.com/hoover-institute-and-the-art-of-slander

[Apollo11]

35. Thanx for the link!

If Gore is thinking about seeking the nomination he had better have all his answers ready and laid out before he announces his candidacy. After all his awareness-raising work over the past year, he will be held to a higher standard than other candidates.

Let's all find ways to show our support for Al Gore! :)

In Gore We Trust
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com - Sign the petition!
www.draftgore2008.org
www.patriotsforgore.com

[nosmokes]

5. i think he lives in a hole he dug in the ground with an old bone.

FCOL, this whole thing about houses anat is ridiculous. i have an idea. if you're that worried about it, turn off your computer. that'll save some wattage. otherwise, do you seriously expect a senator to hold fund raising dinners and such in a cob house or something? an 800sg' yurt? take baths with Dr bronner's miracle soap in the creek? jeebus.

[pnwmom]

12. Frankly, I'm not worried about it. I'm responding to all the threads

around here that are trashing Edwards, and Edwards alone, for the perceived excesses of his house.

Edwards isn't even my candidate, but it still doesn't seem fair to me.

[MazeRat7]

6. Which one ? -nt

[TahitiNut]

11. Gore has said that they've achieved a "zero carbon footprint."

There really is a way to use one's personal affluence responsibly, I think. I doubt that an ecology-friendly home is uncomfortable for AL and Tipper.

[pnwmom]

13. I'm curious how they did that with such a big house.

And (according to a post upthread), possibly a second house.

Maybe he should write another book! (I'd buy it.)

[NYCGirl]

16. Besides solar cells, etc., they purchase carbon offsets and so, are carbon neutral.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_offset

He has another book coming out in May, but it's not a "climate" book:

http://www.amazon.com/Assault-Reason-Al-Gore/dp/1594201226/sr=8-9/qid=1170116137/ref=pd_bbs_sr_9/102-6342155-7167339?ie=UTF8&s=books

[pnwmom]

18. Looks interesting. Thanks for the tip!

[Porcupine]

31. The offsets for his traveling must be amazing.

Flying pumps huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.

It would be nice if carbon offset purchases could be used for Terra Preta projects. This type of farming sequesters carbon and improves soil fertility at the same time.

[sandnsea]

17. They pay for carbon credits

Also, there's lots and lots of books on green building. My son-in-law is a contractor and he asks me for help on researching green construction ideas. We need a 'green depot' so that people can be assured that everything in the store is properly certified and the best technology available.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-4422707-1580824?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=green+building&Go.x=13&Go.y=9

I didn't put DU's code in that link so if you decide to buy a book, come back and click a DU book link first. :)

[pnwmom]

20. Thank you, sandnsea.

Good suggestions.

[leftchick]

21. yes I heard him talk about that on CNN not long ago

solar panels seem to be the key.

[sendero]

24. Screw the "green" aspect..

... folks have a legitimate beef in that Edwards is campaigning about "2 Americas" and building an opulent house at the same time. Morally, I'm neutral about it, politically, it shows a kind of naivete or hubris.

Of course the MSM is going to shove that house up his ass everytime he starts his "2 Americas" schtick.

THAT's what has me chapped.

[pnwmom]

27. Actually, I wouldn't care how big or fancy his house was if it weren't

for the environmental issues.

He and his wife have donated millions to charitable causes and I don't think he has to prove anything by living like Ralph Nader. What matters is how his policies would affect the two Americas, not how big his house is.

[sendero]

28. It is very hard to convince..

.. a populace that your understand their minimum-wage life when you are living like a king.

Sorry if you don't see the disconnect, I do and I think the noise machine will BURY him with it.

[pnwmom]

29. He didn't grow up living like a king. Are you familiar

with his childhood?

[mondo joe]

32. Baloney.

The Roosevelts. Oprah Winfrey. Princess Diana. The Kennedys.

Americans have been able to identify even people who live opulent lifestyles as caring about the poor.

It's about the personal connection.

[sandnsea]

34. I completely disagree with that

Suffering doesn't skip those with money. I've known people ON welfare criticizing 'welfare queens' and voting Republican, money is just not an indicator of empathy. I do not doubt the Edwards' sincerity in confronting poverty and honoring the workers in this country. I just really don't need Elizabeth snowing me with her Target stories to convince me of her sincerity.