regarding al gore, as much as i usually don't defend those with sprawling mansions with high impacts on the earth, i will point out a few things:

first off, their home, while large (10000 sq.ft.) also serves as al and tippers' home offices, and both of them run a number of organizations IIRC. that means there are likely a good number of people there on any given day, like in any office. probably numerous computers etc. think of bill clinton's office in harlem and add a residence to it.

second, they have security details. bodyguards, secret service etc.

third, they purchase %100 green energy for their home, and purchase offsets in an attempt to live a completely carbon-free lifestyle.

lastly, consider that in 2001 dick cheney's power bill at the naval observatory averaged more than $15,000 a month.

Isn't Gore's ranch a family property that his father had? I don't think he built it, he's just using what was already there.

To refute the posts above:

1. Al Gore and Tipper Gore maintain offices at 2100 W End Ave, Nashville, TN. It is not one of their homes.

2. Former Vice-Presidents do not receive Secret Service protection. Any security Al Gore uses are private and a personal decision.

3. Dick Cheney is the Vice-President. His life is governed by Secret Service protocols, and his home chosen. Once out of office, this will change.

4. Al Gore owns three homes. He purchased his 10,000 sqft mansion in Nashville TN. He purchased his 4,000 sqft mansion in Arlington VA. He also purchased his farm in Carthage TN from his father. It was not inherited. All these properties he maintains by choice.

On both Hugg and Treehugger, members have tripped all over themselves to lynch the President for having a green home, and then defend Al Gore for abysmal waste and excess (often with utterly inaccurate statements). The planet cannot differentiate between pollution emitted by a Democrat and a Republican. All must be held to an equal standard. With this in mind, Al Gore is a hypocrite.

If Gore really does have all these properties, then yes, there is a problem even if he buys green power and offsets.

But that's if we only look at houses. In the grand scheme of things, Gore could be munching on coal personally yet still be make a net positive difference with his other actions.

But of course, I wish Gore would do better. We should all aim to improve.

As long as he buys carbon offsets, this is all acceptable.

Critics of environmentalism want to paint it as anti-capitalist, and it isn't.

Environmentalism is anti-waste, anti-abuse and is concerned for future generations.

In all undertakings in our society, there is a combination of profit motive and altruism. For Al Gore's attackers to remain consistent in their logic, they should attack companies that provide benefits, because after all they take away from the immediate quarterly profit. I don't see any of them attacking the bling-rich lifestyles of our televangelists.

Al Gore makes money and consumes resoures, and he shouldn't be criticised for doing so, because in doing so he also promotes (and supports) sustainable practices.

For those of you that didn't follow the link, it turns out that this attack on Al Gore is all nonsense, once again,

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/28/olbermann-on-gores-energy-use-setting-the-record-straight/

And with regard to Vice President Cheney,

"Dick Cheney is the Vice-President. His life is governed by Secret Service protocols, and his home chosen. Once out of office, this will change."

Right, this is a guy who put out a memo instructing hotels he stays at to have all the lights on in his room! He could choose differently.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive0322061cheney1.html

But at the end of the day real issue is not Gore's or Cheney's personal habits, the issue is global warming and climate change,

http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf

I encourage everyone to reduce their carbon footprints and lobby their legislators to take action fight global warming.

http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/