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My wife and I both work out of home offices, we live in a 1913 house with lousy insulation, and our annual electric bill is about $5700, which I still consider to be highway robbery.

The original portion of our home was built in 1912. We have added insulation and space over 30 years. We have a home office, another room dedicated to a home business and a 1600 sq ft remodeled old barn that is a workshop for our other business. Total of 3800 sq ft. We have an above ground pool, 38'x18', heated during the season and a small hot tub kept at 106 degrees year round. Room air conditioning in about 1800 sq ft, all energy efficient and rarely is more than one running at any one time over the 3 months we might need them. 2 computers, a fax machine, 3 TVs, assorted other electronics and both our businesses use loads of hot water. Even our oversized septic system has an electric pump to push the water up to where gravity takes over. We have compact fluorescents in the areas where color discernment isn't vital.

Our total energy bills, electricity, propane heat/hot water and enough firewood to last the winter at 44 degrees North latitude is under $4k/year. Our Rural Electric Cooperative gets around 20% of its power from wind, solar, landfill and dairy farm methane. We drive a Focus for commuting and own a van we use mostly to pull the sailboat. We have a comfortable life at much less energy usage than Algore.From what I could gather in a web search, carbon offsets would run us about US$600/year.

IMO, the Gore's *home offices* are used to reduce their income tax. By having home businesses, they can deduct a portion of their utility bills, probably including their carbon offset costs. I will bet that they also deduct the costs of entertaining by listing it as a business expense. Every time Gore travels, he can deduct gas and depreciation on his personal vehicles as a business expense, as well as the costs of plane travel, lodging and food. I doubt they use discount travel/lodging, as we do. I suppose Tipper is also listed as an employee of Al's *business*.

However, I see around the web that the left is excusing the Gores and anyone who points out their hypocrisy is viciously flamed.