Originally Posted by Jaxian

It is true that the vast majority of electricity production causes carbon emissions. However, Al Gore has signed up for 100% green power through an Organization called "Green Power Switch."

This means that Al Gore's electricity comes from three sources:

Solar Power, which does not produce carbon emissions.

Windmill Power, which does not produce carbon emissions.

Landfill Gas Power, which reduces carbon emissions by changing harmful landfill gases into power.

So while most people's electricity produces carbon emissions: Al Gore's power does not. However, by signing up for 100% green power, he pays more money for his electricity.

Natural gas does indeed produce pollution. In order to compensate for his natural gas usage (and all of his other carbon emissions, such as vehicle usage), Al Gore purchases "carbon offsets". When you purchase carbon offsets, the money goes toward initiatives which try to reduce the amount of carbon in our atmosphere. These initiatives include reforestation, and replacing other people's power with green power.

The idea here is that even though Gore did create some carbon emissions, these "carbon offsets" reduce the amount of carbon in our atmosphere by an amount equal to the carbon he produced.

Gore realizes it is unrealistic to ask people to stop using natural gas and electricity, but he thinks that if people sign up for green power and carbon offsets, it will go a long way toward reducing carbon in our atmosphere.

I believe you have misrepresented Al Gore by stating his energy usage, without also mentioning the methods he uses to prevent his energy usage from harming the environment. By providing the missing information, I hope to help you better understand Al Gore, and the techniques he asks you to use in order to reduce your carbon emissions.