Is Mr Gore green at home?
The Gores natural gas and electric consumption (which combined are the total carbon footprint for the residence) have declined 40 percent since November 2007 when the renovations were completed on their 80 year old home. The renovations took just over 3 years and, at their conclusion the home received certification from the U.S. Green Building Council at the Gold Level through the Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. As part of the renovation, they: Installed a geothermal system for heating cooling, and hot water Installed 33 solar panels Retrofitted the lighting (to LED and compact fluorescent), upgraded the windows, ductwork, appliances and other items required by the program. Their electricity is provided through their local utility’s Green Power Switch program. It is solar, wind, and recovered methane gas from landfills that is then recycled for power.
