I’m not necessarily a fan of Al Gore, I respect what he has accomplished and think we would have all been better off if he had won the election in 2000. The Tennessee Center for Policy Research is claiming that since Al Gore has upgraded his house with energy saving technology that he it’s using more energy than before.

After the Tennessee Center for Policy Research exposed Gore’s massive home energy use, the former Vice President scurried to make his home more energy-efficient. Despite adding solar panels, installing a geothermal system, replacing existing light bulbs with more efficient models, and overhauling the home’s windows and ductwork, Gore now consumes more electricity than before the “green” overhaul.

Since taking steps to make his home more environmentally-friendly last June, Gore devours an average of 17,768 kWh per month –1,638 kWh more energy per month than before the renovations – at a cost of $16,533. By comparison, the average American household consumes 11,040 kWh in an entire year, according to the Energy Information Administration.

I look at this from the perspective of a home owner who is had done and plans to do some of the same upgrades and I have to say “what the fuck? I would be absolutely pissed if I was using more energy after putting that much money into those upgrades.

There’s has to be something else going on here. The TCPR isn’t going into a lot of details on the numbers. I have to wonder if they aren’t presenting the numbers in a way to make their argument favorable. Searching on Google for “Tennessee Center for Policy Research” brings up quite a bit of information on them indicating that they are not only “right-wing” but have influence from the anti-global warming industry.

You can’t believe everything you read on the internet. I think a much more plausible explanation is that Al Gore is building a time machine in his basement and that would explain the net increase in energy usage.