Obama: I Want To Make The White House "Green"

CHICAGO — President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, said their young daughters will still have to do chores in the White House and won't get out of doing homework just because they're the president's children. In an interview with Barbara Walters, the Obamas said Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, will have lives as normal as possible. That means helping out around the house.

"That was the first thing I said to some of the staff when I did my visit," Michelle Obama said. "I said, 'You know, we're going to have to set up some boundaries,' because they're going to need to be able to make their beds, and clean up."

The girls, who will be attending the prestigious Sidwell Friends School, also will be expected to do their homework as usual. Although, the president-elect said, Malia has her eye on a special spot to write important papers.

When she came back from her White House visit recently, she told her dad that she plans to work at the desk in the Lincoln bedroom.

Obama, who is known to be an avid reader of Lincoln history, said his daughter told him "I'm going to sit at that desk, because I'm thinking that will inspire big thoughts."

During the interview, Obama described the desk as being the spot where Lincoln signed the Gettysburg Address. While there is a copy of the address on display in that room, it actually was the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves that Lincoln signed there.

Obama will be sworn in on Jan. 20, and he said he wants to work quickly to make the White House "green."

The president-elect said he plans to sit down with the chief usher for the presidential mansion and do an evaluation of its energy efficiency.

"Part of what I want to do is to show the American people that it's not that hard," Obama said.

Asked whether he'll be tiptoeing around at night, turning off the lights, Obama said he isn't going to be obsessive about it.

"But I do that in my current house," he added, "and there's no reason why I wouldn't do it in my next one."

The full interview airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. EST.

Comments

[Bobosan]

Please plant a Victory Garden at the White House. There hasn't been one since World War I, and it's important to eat local and organic, but mostly local. Set an example.

[Nom de Guerre]

Exactly: bring back Victory Gardens!

[MsLiz]

I don't know about DC but in Alabama tomatoes, okra, butter beans, green beans, bell peppers and corn straight out of the garden are fantastic.

[dana94591]

Also, make sure that your limo is a hybrid!!!

[lisakaz2]

Does anyone make 'em? Wouldn't that be a great idea to make that "bailout" ensure that govt cars and limos were all redesigned to be green?

[45245]

i think any president needs the black cars it looks better....­....then green

[chronic]

This is exactly what have been asking.


The Pres. can mandate all Fed passenger cars migrate to hybrid over the next 8 yrs..

[mamacat]

This actually makes sense. There is no reason that the hybrid technology should not be installed on most cars and light trucks. Vehicles that are going to be used mostly away from cities probably shouldn't have this technology, but most people and vehicles travel in cities, in stop-and-go traffic that is ideal for hybrids. We would see a very quick reduction in the amount of petroleum used for fueling personal transportation.

[dana94591]

YES!!!! I am so excited! Come on, Barack. Make the White House Green, man!!!! Get those light bulbs changed, hot water on demand, solar roof, etc. Get going guy!!!

[chnge2012]

It will be very green with more tax money from all

[Klimb]

so pay your taxes! No country in this world survives without taxes lowered or raised!

[bakedalaska2]

They don't pay taxes in Dubai (government makes enough money from oil and doesn't need tax payers money).

[Not to mention that the starting salary for a college graduate there is $180,000 p/a.]

[Hawka]

An investment worth paying for that will ultimately pay for itself and more, as is the new energy and environmental policy that needs to and likely will be implemented by the coming administration.

[indypete]

(yawn)

[MossyOak]

Did your momma teach you to say that?

[luvangelHussein330]

Money well spent...

[MACS]

.
Jimmy Carter added solar cells to the white house roof as a part of his plan to make America energy self sufficent, only to have king ronnie raygun have them removed as a present to BIG OIL.
.

[SeekerOne]

The true Reagan legacy.

[Harmony1812]

The technology exists to integrate the solar component into new roofing tile. It would be virtually invisible.

[Nonpartay]

Does the White House have roofing tile? :) Sounds like a terrific idea if it does!

[jsarets]

It's my understanding that the White House is heated using district steam from an old coal-fired plant. Obama should consider installing a geothermal heat pump powered by electricity generated on-site, preferably from solar and/or wind, but a natural gas turbine generator would be preferable to any electricity purchased from the grid. Besides the elimination of transmission losses, there are also national security advantages to the White House being able to power itself independently of the electric grid.

I'd also encourage Obama to implement policies that reduce unnecessary paper consumption by working with documents in electronic format and excessive travel by using video conferencing wherever practical.

[hotstuff]

Ya, and my grandad said he was right about inflateing your tires to safe gas! So there!

[Furby]

You can save a whole lot of gas that way but maybe some adults think that's too easy, and that the answer has to be complicated. But it doesn't. Your grandad is absolutely right! Thanks hotstuff.

[zoog21]

Hey enviro whackos...­...how about the guy gets the economy under control, deals with Russia, Venezuela, terrorism threats, and some other more important things before retro-fitting the WH with this crap using taxpayer money...ge­essh!!!

[UltraClassic]

Ha Ha Ha Zoo. Sometimes, someone needs to call these la la landers on their nonsense. Good job.

[WestCoastWoman]

zoog21... I'm sure he is not planning to make that a priority with everything else that is crucial. Relax.... and those of us that into saving the environment, find it insulting for you to call us enviro whackos. Too bad you don't seem to care about the planet all that much

[Bocado]

Hey Bible thumper, I can think of a few things that Bush WASTED taxpayer dollars with.
My suggestion to you, S T F _ , care to buy a vowel?

[nellie]

The best news is that the solar panels are going back up on the white house roof. If those panels had stayed on the White House (the oil greed just couldn't leave them there) and the solar industry had gotten a jumpstart, the prices would be affordable now, and a lot of us would be off the grid.

[Harmony1812]

A hot water return from the A/C system would be good too

[MossyOak]

Better yet, get rid of your A/C.

[RJII]

just years ago, republicans were saying greenhouse effect was liberial lies. They even hired scientist to say it wasn't true.

the gop was out to destroy everything and everyone.

[Grunty1]

As long as someone profits from it, there is nothing the GOP won't support.

[mamacat]

Which is why they are losing election after election.

[scully09]

mr. gorbachov,
tear down these solar panels!

[DannyEastVillage]

yup reagan was the guy who did it--tore down the Carters' solar panels. they couldnt wait to do it. what great, patriotic Americans republicans are--always have been! GO EXXON!

[breezyholler]

When voting for Obama I truly believed that he will encourage development of more solar and wind energy...T­his is the only way we are going to put a stop to Mountain top removal stripminin­g...and coal fired power plants...T­he two most destructive and polluting practices in America today.....­It will require a lot of good citizenship to assist President Obama in making these necessary changes...­.WE THE PEOPLE MUST REMAIN INVOLVED AND VIGILANT !!!!!!!!!

[Bocado]

Reagan was and still is highly overrated.

[pensivenubian3]

get a load of this . . .

Obama, who is known to be an avid reader of Lincoln history, said his daughter told him "I'm going to sit at that desk, because I'm thinking that will inspire big thoughts."

it's like WHOA -- this family is just totally INSPIRING on all levels. Even the children inspire me as an adult to believe and to see possibilities in fully developing the talents and abilities of all youth. That is mightily inspiring and a mature insight coming from a 10 year old...

[Harmony1812]

We will be watching his kids. They may be very important adults.

[rivrgrrl]

Count on it, one of them for sure, probably both.

[Harmony1812]

I want to take a black and white photo of her doing her homework there. It would be poetic.

[RobertAndropolis]

Malia makes me feel stupid. And I've got a master's degree.

[UltraClassic]

I think I'm going to hurl.

[WestCoastWoman]

pensivenubian3- I heard that too on Barbara Walters while she interviewed the Obamas. I agree with you said above.

[grf67]

It is about time that we had a president who did not think that environmental issues, no matter how small, are beneath him. Bush is an environmental joke.

[jinxed]

Bush IS a joke!

[Harmony1812]

And not even a very funny one

[RobertAndropolis]

Bush is an international criminal. He should call for an FBI investigat­ion...on himself.

[MossyOak]

Bush is an environmental TERRORIST!

[SeanGardner]

You know, since Obama wants to make sure The White House is more energy efficient, he could add solar panels to reduce consumption off the power grid. Energy-efficient windows can be installed if they haven't been already, and he could make sure "compact" fluorescent light bulbs and other energy-saving technology are used as well. This would be a perfect complement to the fact that the Obamas drive a Ford hybrid SUV to help reduce carbon emissions.

If Obama had a seriously GREEN White House, it would cause a ripple effect across the country. I know for a fact that the price of solar panels would come down because demand would spike.

[stop7997]

Carter actually did have solar panels installed. When Ronald Reagan took office, he had them removed. That was, of course, nearly 30 years ago. Hopefully the country is beginning to learn lessons from the past.

[nellie]

Imagine if the solar industry had gotten a serious start in the late seventies and had kept growing. The greed and short-sightedness of our so-called "leadership" is mind boggling.

[MaryanneAZ]

Carter was way ahead of his time and reviled by the Right. Carter had many good ideas to become energy independent and he was dismissed. It is good to see that he is finally going to be vindicated for his foresight and vision all these years later. I hope people go back and review Carter's plans and ideas - there was a lot of there there. Go Team Obama and those young Obama Girls!!!

[bakedalaska2]

Maybe the ghosts from the table turning seances told them to get rid of those bright shimmery things on the roof

[nogimmicks]

These are just feel-good cheap symbols. The real actions with far reaching consequences are his neoconserv­ative-powe­r-preservi­ng decisions about the bailout, Gates, Lieberman, Geithner, etc.

[canucklivinginUSA]

meh

[SeanGardner]

"neoconservative"

That's a stretch.

[Grunty1]

More of a distortion if you ask me.

[KarlaElisa]

It is not a cheap symbol.

One voice CAN change a room.

[breezyholler]

The answer my friend , is blowing in the wind ( Bob Dylan ) WIND ENERGY IS ALL AROUND JUST WAITING TO BE HARNESSED !!...Put everyone to work developing and building solar farms and wind turbines..­...NOW IS THE TIME !

[Awakenedcitizen]

Lead by example...­..nogimmic­ks be part of the solution, or part of the problem.

[DannyEastVillage]

SLOW down man..just wait a bit before you run with that..

[DragonFly]

Speaking of greening the White House, there's a petition started for President Elect Obama to set up an organic garden project on the White House grounds in order to help promote organic farming, buying local, and transforming wasted urban spaces into community gardens.

Agribusiness has messed with our food system for far too long, and Obama wants the people to get involved in taking back our country, so ...

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/organic-garden-project-on-White-House-Grounds

[DorightWoman]

although organic gardening is a good idea, to do so in the city is not. Lead fumes leach into the soil and not good for consumption.

[DragonFly]

It's done via raised garden beds and the soil is made with organic materials free of toxic compounds.

Organic gardens in the city run by community members is not new - we just need a lot more of them.

[jinxed]

Wasn't the "Unleaded" gas supposed to eliminate that problem?

[breezyholler]

When i lived in Hawaii in the 1980s...co­mmunity gardens were fairly commonplac­e...not only are they practical and beautiful.­...they also become a great social setting...­bringing folks together who might not otherwise have occasion to interact..­.especiall­y senior citizens !