Les Jones

Environment > So Much for Al Gore's Solar-powered Salvation

Al Gore got busted last year for his Nashville mansion's energy-hogging ways. After he was caught enlightened he decided to make his house more eco-friendly, with geothermal heating, more efficient lighting, and solar panels.

Now he's been busted again, with even higher energy bills than before the upgrades. Spokesperson Kalee Kreider says the bills don't yet reflect the efficiency upgrades.

Most people are focusing on Gore's failure to control his own domestic energy consumption. That's legitimate, but here's what I noticed in that last link: "the house’s 33 solar panels only supply 4 percent of its power needs, per Kreider."

So many solar panels, so little difference. Compare Gore's increase in energy use and the minimal impact of his home's solar panels to the Live Earth Pledge that he was party to:

The Live Earth Pledge (or the Seven Point Pledge) is a petition promulgated by the Live Earth campaign, urging governments to adopt a variety of environmental protection laws.

The pledge, spearheaded by Live Earth founder Al Gore, consists of seven points "directly designed to put pressure on governments and on businesses, but do so by asking people around the world to help to focus that pressure".[1] Among others signing the pledge with Gore are U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, both Democrats like Gore.[1] The pledge will also be presented to Live Earth concert attendees, who will be asked to sign.[2] According to Gore, "The climate crisis will only be stopped by an unprecedented and sustained global movement."[3]

1. Within the next 2 years, countries have to join an international treaty to cut global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in a short timespan.
2. The signees will try to live as carbon neutral as possible.
3. A moratorium has to be established on the construction of coal-burning facilities that do not have the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2.
4. The signees will work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of their homes, workplaces, schools, places of worship and means of transportation.
5. Laws and policies have to be created that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
6. The signees will plant new trees and help preserve and protect forests.
7. The signees will buy from businesses and support leaders who support their commitment to solving the climate problem.

If the guy who wrote the Live Earth Pledge can't live up to it, how can anyone else?

As far as solar, I'm 39. I've been hearing that solar power is right around the corner since the 1970s. Every year we're told that there are new breakthroughs in solar technology that will finally make solar competitive with other energy sources. It still hasn't happened. I'd love for solar to work, but until and unless solar achieves the long-promised gains in efficiency I'm not holding my breath.