Earth Equity News

My, Senator, What a Big Foot(print) You Have! Posted by Joseph Romm, Gristmill, August 22, 2008. "[What is the carbon footprint of Sen. John McCain's many houses?]... Someone should ask [him, especially given that]... he says he wants to require all Americans to cut greenhouse gas emissions 60 to 70% by 2050... [and given] how conservatives beat up Vice President Gore for the supposed energy excesses of his one Nashville home... According to press reports, just one of McCain's homes, his $4.66 million condo in Phoenix, is about 7,000 sq. ft., which is three times the size of the average American home built last year. His $850,000 Virginia condo is another 2,100 sq. ft. Given a total estimated value of McCain's homes of $14 million, one can make a very rough estimate that McCain has 10 times the carbon footprint of the average American home, which is about 15 tons of CO2... I seriously doubt that McCain is purchasing 100% renewable power, using state-of-the-art energy efficiency, including a geothermal heat pump to all but eliminate his carbon footprint, as Gore is... [So,] for now, I'll stick with [a rough estimate of] 150 tons of CO2 [as his current carbon footprint]."