6 May 2008 21 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

Photo courtesy Robert Scoble and licensed by Creative Commons.

This is rather old news, but what the heck.  While browsing through Snopes.com, an urban legend site, I discovered an entry for Al Gore.  The urban legend?  That Al Gore’s residence uses considerably more energy than the average American home.  So does he?  The article says that, while the specific figures are disputed (somewhere between 12 and 20 times the average American household), that Gore does use considerably more energy than the average American.

Does the ex-veep dispute this claim?  Not at all.  Gore says the comparisons are misleading as he has a carbon-neutral lifestyle by purchasing energy in renewable forms, like solar, wind and methane gas.  A spokesperson for the Gores said Al and Tipper both work out of their home and that every American has a different carbon footprint.  She said that Gore has asked every American do take steps to reduce, and offset, their carbon footprint.   

Oh, and the size of Gore’s mansion?  Approximately four times the size of the average American’s home.  Does four times the size equate to 12 to 20 times the energy use?  Maybe I should submit that question to Snopes.  Why not buy an average-sized home like the rest of America, Mr. Gore?  Think of all the money you’ll save on electricity.

www.snopes.com

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