Isn't this interesting about 2 houses
@CaroleeKaufold (1853)
United States
April 5, 2007 1:01am CST
LOOK OVER THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FOLLOWING TWO HOUSES AND SEE IF YOU CAN
TELL WHICH BELONGS TO AN ENVIRONMENTALIST.
HOUSE # 1:
A 20-room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on
a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house all heated by gas. In
ONE MONTH ALONE this mansion consumes more energy than the average American
household in an ENTIRE YEAR. The average bill for electricity and natural
gas runs over $2,400.00 per month. In natural gas alone (which last time we
checked was a fossil fuel), this property consumes more than 20 times the
national average for an American home. This house is not in a northern or
Midwestern "snow belt," either. It's in the South.
HOUSE # 2:
Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university, this
house incorporates every "green" fe ature current home construction can
provide. The house contains only 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is
nestled on arid high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in
the house holds geothermal heat pumps drawing ground water through pipes
sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F.) heats the
house in winter and cools it in summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such
as oil or natural gas, and it consumes 25% of the electricity required for a
conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected
and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from
showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then
into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding
the house. Flowers and shrubs native to the area blend the property into the
surrounding rural landscape.
HOUSE # 1 (20 room energy guzzling mansion ) is outside of Nashville,
Tennessee. It is the abode of that renowned environmentalist (and
filmmaker) Al Gore.
HOUSE # 2 (model eco-friendly house) is on a ranch near Crawford, Texas.
Also known as "the Texas White House," it is the private residence of the
President of the United States, George W. Bush.
WELL NOW ISN'T THAT INTERESTING.
Now here's the link:
Urban Legends Reference Pages: A Tale of Two Houses
7 people like this
24 responses
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
5 Apr 07
The old expression "Actions speak louder then words" is very evident with this one. I would love to say I'm surprised but I'm not by the fact that Al Gore is such a hypocrite as that. The guy is definitly all talk. Just goes to show though you do have to look more into things then just what is being told by a person.
@ag_abscruzmd (2283)
• United States
5 Apr 07
Wow! That's all I can say. Firstly, they've got a lot of money! Hehe. Secondly, people couldn't really hide what they've got, especially when they're in the public eye. I was really surprised that a staunch environmentalist like Al Gore would have a house like that. Very ironic, indeed. Well, anyway, what else is there to expect? When there's no smoke, there's no fire. People have ways of knowing about these things. Thanks for the information! Quite an interesting read, and I shall be checking the site. Happy myLotting!
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
5 Apr 07
Thanks for sharing this Caroleekaufold.
I found it very interesting, eye-openning, and highly relevant.
I can only hope this comparison gets back to Gore, and shames him as he is more than deserving. His hypocrisy is astounding!
And, the concept of carbon off-sets. Huh, what a joke. Yeah, I'm going to live like a gluttonous pig, but I'll pay someone else to live more frugally and a third person to plant some trees, so that I can say that I'm not part of the problem. In what world does that make an ounce of sense?
2 people like this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
5 Apr 07
Actions speak louder than words. This should be put out there and let all know during elections and shown with they speak on the subject. Appreciate you sharing facts that undeniable here at Mylot. Sure can be amazing what can be found and shared on the net now.
2 people like this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
5 Apr 07
That is very interesting. Many people who are promoting eco-friendly ways often don't practice the use of it. It is ludicrous to not practice what you preach.
2 people like this
@valerfore (298)
• Singapore
5 Apr 07
I would like to add that by raising awareness to this global issue, he is doing much more to help the environment to counter his energy guzzling house. Not that I'm defending his "hypocrisy"
3 people like this
@dixielol (1579)
• United States
7 Apr 07
I dont suppose this would be a true urban legand? Though it is true. Alot of people like to "talk the talk with out walkin the walk". For example there are alot of people who are all concerened about animal rights & think that hunting is wrong. Yet when they see a spider in there home, the smash it. Then you have a hunter who finds a spider in his home & catches it & releases it out side. A funny post those. Thanks for postin this
1 person likes this
@sweetdesign (5142)
• United States
5 Apr 07
This does not surprise me. One thing I have learned about enviromentolist is that in a lot of the cases they talk the talk but fail to walk the walk. I am not a huge enviromentalist I do try to do my part to conserve natural resources I could be labeled as a tree hugger as I hate that trees get cut down in massive quantities in the name of progress and to build strip malls. But I also have my faults and I don't proclaim not to.
@carolynpb (647)
• United States
9 Apr 07
Now isn't that something? You don't hear stuff like this on the news!
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
5 Apr 07
Interesting stuff carolee. Too bad Bush can't bring his eco friendly house into his policies for the nation. I read an article in Time recently about a gentleman that builds true ecofriendly houses. It has about 300 square feet, and only hte amenities that are truly necessary for survival. I wish I could remember what his name is. The article also went on to say that although "green" houses are becoming more popular, the cost and materials that go into building them are not always so "green" to begin with. Good discussion!
1 person likes this
@skydancer (2101)
• United States
6 Apr 07
For some reason I am not surprised... then again, I am a conservative/republican. I was aware of cases like this all along... However I have never read this particular one. It is interesting.
It reminds me a story I was told one time by a girl at college - she was driving down the street and was stuck behind this car that would not even pass an inspection, yet the whole body of the car was wallpapered in environmental protection bumper stickers... the stickers were probably what was holding the car's body together. Oh, and the Co2 emissions were outrageous (put your top up/roll up all your windows!).
I do laugh at stories like this, but the sad thing is that the spirit of it is all true (at least from my own personal experience, it is).
Of course, this doesn't apply to everyone. I know some people who are self-proclaimed "greenies" who actually preach by example. Though I may not agree with them politically, I really do like these people. At least they "practice what they preach," as the cliche goes.
1 person likes this
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
5 Apr 07
I'd like to say I'm surprised, but really I'm not lol.
Those people that always speak out about the environment, and how we need to take care of our planet are always the ones who live in the most uneco friendly homes.
It sucks really.
2 people like this
@schrotian (83)
• China
6 Apr 07
yes. i am the same opinion with the people who emit their agreements.
it is ironic.
we often say something about some things.it may be right or wrong,the positive or the opposite.
what do we want to say?it is about the feeling that what we can do if we are there or we meet ..
so you can see ,what really do one do?
it is not the action to what they have said.
i think we cannt be that man.
1 person likes this
@pengqing (217)
• China
6 Apr 07
Now the problem is getting serious about environmental protection!If we were not concerned about their living environment,a number of years and will be punished!The Chinese government has"environmental protection"as an important part of sustainable development.
1 person likes this
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
2 May 07
Do you know for sure that Gore's house is 'energy guzzling,' or is that assumption just being made because it's a large house? And we also don't know many people live or work in Gore's house... is it possible that he and others have offices there and that's why it has so many rooms?
People always jump to conclusions, it seems, without looking behind the headlines to see what the facts really are.
@prttynpnkw83 (444)
• United States
6 Apr 07
well that is very interesting. Things that you can find on the net lol
@kurtbiewald (2625)
• United States
5 Apr 07
a pr stunt I suspect
how many other houses do they each have?
what kinds?
is the white house eco friendly? Does that count?
I'm reminded of Ken Lay's wife on TV, CRYING and CRYING, they had to sell HALF!!!!!!! of their 80 mansions, due to him ripping off employees retirement money.
My heart aches for them...........;(
