An Inconvenient Truth
You've probably seen this before, but I hadn't. It's a metaphor for the "oxymoranity" of American politics. It's all about talking the talk---which, let me make clear, needs to be done in the issue of global warming. However, I'm depressed to report I'm no longer surprised when our "leaders" are not walking the walk. And I'm no longer shocked by the ironies that are certain to pop up. So go figure (and with the disclaimer I abhor, detest and denounce Dubya):
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 this residence consumes more energy than the average American household does in a year. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2400 per month. In natural gas alone, this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not situated in a Northern or Midwestern 'snow belt' area. It's in the South.
House #2: Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university. This house incorporates every 'green' feature current home construction can provide. The house is 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on a 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 the winter and cools it in the summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas and it consumes one-quarter 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. Surrounding flowers and shrubs native to the area enable the property to blend into the surrounding rural landscape.
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 this residence consumes more energy than the average American household does in a year. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2400 per month. In natural gas alone, this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not situated in a Northern or Midwestern 'snow belt' area. It's in the South.
House #2: Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university. This house incorporates every 'green' feature current home construction can provide. The house is 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on a 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 the winter and cools it in the summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas and it consumes one-quarter 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. Surrounding flowers and shrubs native to the area enable the property to blend into the surrounding rural landscape.~~~~~
HOUSE #1 is outside of Nashville, Tennessee; it is the abode of the environmentalist Al Gore.
HOUSE #2 is on a ranch near Crawford, Texas; it is the residence the of the President of the United States, George W. Bush.
An 'inconvenient truth. ' Who'da thunk it?
ANNOUNCEMENT: Lucy lives for your blogs and comments. You beautiful, faithful people know who you are. I feel so guilty when I don't respond to your comments but please know I would if I could. Thankfully elderdom has diminished only my body and not my curiousity and sense of humor---and especially of the ironic. Having an aging body is a drag but one hand still works and I continue to move my mouse and handwrite the occasional blog for my dear and very busy DIL Carole to type. I, like many of my elder kindred, keep interested and alert because you keep coming back to see me. I'm making a video to tell you up-close and personally but I have to get my hair and nails done first. Much love to you all.
posted by goldenlucyd @ 9:52 AM
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