Gore criticised for electricity use

Former US vice president and climate change campaigner Al Gore has been accused of hypocrisy over his “extravagant” electricity bill.

American think tank the Tennessee Centre for Policy Research claims the ex-politician’s Nashville mansion uses more electricity every month than the average US household does in a whole year.

In his Oscar-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, Gore calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home.

The TCPR obtained Nashville Electric Service figures apparently showing that his home devoured nearly 221,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2006.

That is more than 20 times what US Department of Energy says is the national average of 10,656 kWh.

In August alone, Mr Gore got through 22,619 kWh, and since the release of An Inconvenient Truth his energy consumption has apparently increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.

“Gore’s extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill,” the centre added.

“Natural gas bills for Gore’s mansion and guest house averaged 1,080 per month last year.”

TCPR president Drew Johnson said: “As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use.”

Kalee Kreider, a spokesperson for Mr Gore and his wife Tipper, did not dispute the figures, but told ABC the couple both worked at home, implying that made them likely to use more energy.

They had taken steps to reduce and offset their carbon footprint by purchasing their power from a programme offering electricity generated by renewable resources, she said.

“In addition, they are in the midst of installing solar panels on their home, which will enable them to use less power,” Ms Kreider said.

“They also use compact fluorescent bulbs and other energy efficiency measures and then they purchase offsets for their carbon emissions to bring their carbon footprint down to zero.”

According to TCPR the Gores paid nearly 30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for the Nashville estate in 2006.