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

[schicklett3]

Watching Obama interact with those little children is truly heart warming.
He will be a well loved president.

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

YOU CAN BORROW THE CLASS OF THE NEW GENERATION'S CRAYONS :)

[progressivelady]

I just love this man, it'sa boutt ime Al Gore would have done it 8 yrs ago, and we would'nt have been in 2 war's, GW S C R E W E D us in so many way's

[magen]

Remember when Reagan REMOVED the solar panels from the WH roof??

That alone speaks volumes.

[Myshkin57]

Yeah. It'll be a while, but longterm history will not judge Reagan as a good president, even if the current conventional wisdom is that he was.

[lizziekw]

I don't know if the conventional wisdom is that he was such a great president. The neo-clowns think so and some folk who don't follow politics much. Mostly his legacy is one of affection. The American people have a lot of affection for him and apparently he was a very amiable, likable guy. Weird, given his terrible, harmful policies but that's the way people talk about him.

[weatherwaxx]

Current propaganda is that he was. Many of the regulations that kept corporate excess under control were removed under Reagan -- such as the one limiting ownership of the media. "Unka Ronnie" was just a figurehead, anyway -- Bush 1 was the executive, digging merrily away at the foundations of the country.

[nogimmicks]

Please do not confuse the Republican "conventional wisdom" with regular wisdom based on numbers and actions.

[StillIRise]

It's not "conventional wisdom" that judges Reagan as a good president ... it's "Republican wisdom," and we already know that Republican wisdom leaves much to be desired! I lived through Ronald Reagan, and he was NOT a good president!! Maybe he was good for Republicans, but he was not good for America!

[HansB]

He was a lucky president, coming to power when there was money in the Treasury, when inequality wasn't too great, and when the Soviet Union was about to collapse.

[JDinBalt]

I was thinking that even as I read the headline. Reagan may be doing backflips in his grave.

[jinxed]

Even though Carter had a comprehensive energy program and far reaching policies that could have kept us from the mess George & Co. have created nationally he is still known and trashed as the "worst president", ask any Republican. The interesting thing I notice is the number of republican presidents in the 20th century that has totally trashed the USA. Just a short list:
1. Nixon -- lies, criminal behavior
2. George H -- record deficit
3. Reagan -- record deficit
4. Hoover
Not a whole lot to be proud of. Maybe that is why the GOP trashes all Dems re: "slander the competition first and continue until it sticks" mindset.

[Grunty1]

Dubya more than earned his position as a 20th century president by trying to bring us back to the 1920s, socially and economically.

[Lakrosse]

to start, put those solar panels back on the white house. There is no reason the white house should not be able to run entirely on solar on a sunny day, or when possible. There can panels on the white house lawns as well. Also, they should put turbines in the Potomic, as rivers with high enough pressure can use them. CFL bulbs all around should be the first thing he does.

[BartLA]

I still can't believe Reagan took down those solar panels. Shows where his priorities were. Clinton should have put them back up when he started his presidency.

I hope Obama put them back up. At least he's signaling to us he's a President who is going to bring us into the 21st century!!!

[zippywpinhead]

he couldn't- they were donated to some local college where they're still in use today...

[weatherwaxx]

The solar panels made these days are much more efficient and durable. And they're used even in northern countries in Scandinavia, so DC should be a breeze.

Part of Reagan's stragety was to ridicule Carter; I've read that Bush1 even negotiated with the Iranian militants to keep holding the US hostages until after the election. The smear job done on Carter was just a warmup for the Swift Boat Liars.

I hope America has had enough of that gutter-crawling, but I"m old enough to know that there are a lot of mean, stupid people in the country. I hope a lot of people learn from Obama's example.

[jinxed]

If Clinton ad put the solar panels back up, you don't REALLY think W would have left them, do you? W went into the White House fully planning to dismantle and undo all that the Clinton Administration accomplished, good and bad, anything that had Clinton's name on it. That was why 9/11 happened, W was fixated on dismantling the Clinton administration and considered ANYTHING and ANYBODY associated with Clinton suspect. Total blind obsession because Bill beat his (W's) daddy just like Saddam Hussein tried to kill his daddy. For W, revenge plays a big role in his life.

[Harmony1812]

I live in sunny Florida but my association prohibits solar panels. We need legislation and tax benefits to encourage enviromental change. Every new home should have panels. Every A/C unit should have a hot water return to recycle the heat produced. On demand water heaters are good too, no sense heating water that will sit unused in the pipes.

[Myshkin57]

I've read a lot of stories about condo and neighborhood associations prohibiting solar panels. It really needs to be illegal for an association to do so. I can see restrictions to prohibit things like reflecting a lot of light into one's neighbors' homes but these outright bans are ridiculous.

[Bobosan]

I agree. For solar energy to be against the covenants is ridiculous. The HOA needs to vote to overturn that. I belong to an HOA and will be putting this conversion on the agenda for our next meeting. The government tax incentives help, financially, and in the end the payback for installation should take about 10 years. It's an important investment.

[catmandont]

I'm sure glad he wants to make the White House green. It's about time they stopped serving "meat" there.

[leftoflennon]

lunatic vegetarian

[veteran1964]

How come all the vegetarians look like they are on their 'death bed' when we see them. It looks like they have been put in seclusion and their bones stick out. Vegetarians are out of their mind....Especially when they turn down a good old 'rare' steak......UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[Lakrosse]

how does that make anything "green?" As long as endangered species are not eaten, its ok to eat meat.

[Myshkin57]

Much more land is used in the raising of livestock for food than growing crops. Acres upon acres of forests get cleared each year to provide fields for grazing.

[mouselion]

The effluent from raising and processing livestock pollutes water supplies.
Increased grain production to feed livestock takes away from land being used to grow grains, fruits and vegetables.
Most meat production is not done in an ecological way as part of a balanced agriculture, but rather by large conglomerates that only raise and process meat.
Eating less meat, or going vegetarian, is indeed more green.
Eat less meat, choose local, humanely produced sources of meat and realize how you choose to live really does matter.

[DannyEastVillage]

our excessive meat consumption is why the Amazon basin is being raped--to provide pastureland for more beef cattle.

[Harmony1812]

Dr. Kellogg many years ago said that it was not surprising that man can live well eating meat, but that he can live eating it at all.

[BartLA]

Going green has nothing to do with not eating meat.

[justaskinman]

You are misguided. Cow farts and belches resulting from their dependence on cornfeed is the number one greenhouse gas in the World. Forget cars and even leafblowers... bovine flatulence is the greatest threat to our air and our ozone.

[weatherwaxx]

Yes, it does. The same acreage that is needed to raise one cow can be used to raise a lot more grain. Vegetable protein, pound for pound, is cheaper to produce and there's less environmental impact, especially with organic methods.

[rmreddicks]

Who in hell can afford meat anymore? Seems Bush and his cronies have done a disservice to the Texas bovine industry. Truth to tell, I'm a carnivore by internal nature but an herbivore by financial necessity. I don't feel any the healthier for it.

[toni63]

It actually does have alot to do with the results we wish to achieve by going green , the animal industry is the one of the biggest contributors to global warming. The link below is a great article to start with ...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/07/food.foodanddrink

[research]

How about we settle for "less" beef.

[markusmarkus]

go fish!

[canucklivinginUSA]

So what if he eats meat? That is seriously presumptuous of you

[Horus45]

I am sure that a small amount of the right fringe will see the title of this article and assume that he literally intends on painting the White House green.
They were convinced during the campaign that he was going to paint the White House black!

Enough silliness.

To make my home more green I replaced every light bulb inside and outside my home with the Compact Fluorescent Bulbs and saw an immediate reduction in my monthly electric bill.
My electric bill dropped by 20%.
If every home in the United Stated replaced their light bulbs like I did, that would be enough to end our dependence on Oil from the Middle East.

[progressivepam]

Our dependence on foreign oil is not about light bulbs... it's about fuel for our cars, trucks and planes... Until we get that figured out, we're stuck. So, on with the green revolution.

Now, I'm not saying "don't change your lightbulbs!" But that's not going to solve our problems. btw... it is my understanding, compact fluorescent bulbs are made GE are made overseas while their regular bulbs are made here. So, we've got packing, and transporting, etc... GE asked all their employees to sign a pact saying that they would do their part in protecting the environment, by using these bulbs. Of course, it would have put them out of a job...

We have a whole lot to address in this great country of ours.

[BartLA]

Obama has said before it's going to take big measures.

But we as citizens also do have to contribute. I was taught by my parents to conserve and not waste - that means electricity, fuel, water, etc., as well as recycling. Everything we do affects the environment as well.

We do have a lot to address and we all can play a part. Including standing up for our government to help develop renewable energy and get us off the oil dependence.

By the way, help sign the petition by the NRDC to stop Bush's new drilling leases in Utah:

http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/biogems_redrock_1108

[Horus45]

I did not say it will end our dependence on Foreign Oil, I said it would end our dependence on Oil From the Middle East.

We will always get a lot of oil from Canada.

[veteran1964]

I also have better bulbs and have been shutting doors to unused rooms and only using one light a heater in my home...My electric bill this winter has reduced over $150 per month so far. CONSERVE everyone.....If we keep conserving maybe we can get gasoline down to a dollar a gallon. Don't drive a lot and conserve and make the oil companies give us deals.

[Littlewords]

Nice to see engagement from the top even before in office with desire to get more serious about energy efficiency, responsibility, and independence!

BTW--if I have to see another Chevron add telling me how green they make the world, I am going to vomit!
I know that have umteen billions in unspent profits to now spend on ad rhetoric, but it is obnoxious and grossly misleading. Yuk. It would be like watching a tobacco company ad telling me their grand achievements to enable clean skies and helping to clear my lungs.

[mylegsareswollen]

Now Obama is spending millions on a huge inaugural.

That money could be better spent to feed the homeless and hungry.

Disgusting.

[fedupinfla]

Excuse me??? Disgusting?

How about we cancel the Superbowl, World Series & Mardi Gras since that money could be better spent too?? Think how much money spent on 1 commercial alone during the Super Bowl could feed homeless....

You want to blame Obama for the cost of an inauguration that EVERY President gets & deserves? Gimme a friggin' break!!! You think McCain & Palin would've canceled THEIRS?! Hell no! I'm sure Palin had a dress all picked out....

[canucklivinginUSA]

F U

[StillIRise]

The millions being spent on the inauguration are to accommodate the millions of people in America and throughout the world who recognize the historic implication of this election, who are tremendously happy about his presidency, and who want to share this moment with him. I find nothing disgusting about that. In fact, I find it pretty extraordinary that our President-Elect is so well received, not only in America but in the global community as well. It's quite a contrast to the thousands of protesters who marched and threw eggs at Bush's limo when he was inaugurated, and the papers around the world questioning America's stupidity for electing him! I'm sure even the homeless and hungry will be celebrating Obama's inauguration, because at least they now have hope of being lifted from their misery, whereas Bush never even gave them a second thought! What is disgusting is the last eight years of the Bush administration, and it's worth every penny to see such an extraordinary man take his place!

[htd2009]

Obama has already stated that the celebrations will be cut back (get your facts straight)

[Harmony1812]

They can't help it if so many people want to celebrate. Crowd control costs money.

[racje]

I am weeping with joy. It's been a long journey. The arrival is often a quiet step through an open door: in this case, a young girl sitting at a desk, writing. Malia--descended from people abducted from Africa and sold into slavery, as well as from slave holders, free Africans, and those in America who neither held slaves nor were enslaved--thinking "big thoughts" and writing at the desk on which Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

God bless Malia and the nation in the journeys yet to come.

[toypiano]

I'm with you on that. It's a powerful image, Obama's children writing at Lincoln's desk.

[markusmarkus]

The circle is now indeed unbroken!

[Harmony1812]

I would love to take a black and white photo of a thoughtful Malia sitting there doing her homework. It would be poetic.

[nothingmusic42]

i live in florida, i keep wondering why the "sun-shine" state hasn't sunk major funding into solar and wind tech. "drill, baby, drill" would've put oil-rigs off the coast and that would have destroyed tourism. but i see no reason why we aren't generating wind/ solar power with our abundant natural resources. florida buys water from georgia, we should be able to generate enough electricty to sell off the rest to most of the s.e. US.

seems like the mid-west can be put back to work building wind-mills. coastal areas can go back to work installing/ maintaining the wind-mills. both of those generate the money for the engineers/ developers to advance the tech, the government takes all the tax credits from dirty energy and gives them to clean energy, so investors will focus on clean tech.

hell, i think if fl and cal would work on a serious clean energy plan, these 2 states could generate electricty for a good chunk of the US. sure the tech is still pretty rough, but as more money is spent on research and development, it will improve.

it's nice to have a president who realizes that energy is just one part the over-all goal of making america great. energy is tied to economy, which is tied to foreign policy, which is tied with military threats, etc...

[Horus45]

Bush had ended the Tax incentives for companies that wanted to invest in alternative forms of energy.
Without those tax incentives installing Solar Panels for electricity was far too expensive and did nothing to save them money in the short term.

In my opinion Wind is going to be a bigger player than solar because of the efficiency and cost per kilowatt hour associated with both forms.

[veteran1964]

If I had the darn money I would have a windmill in my backyard......It would produce way more than what I use and then I could get a check back from the power companies each month. I sure wish I could afford it...The wind is always blowing here.....Trouble is, they cost too much.

[Harmony1812]

As a Floridaian, I concur. Every area of the country has available to it different ways to produce sustainable energy. It may be solar, wind or hydro. We must use these resources.

[loveobamas]

OBAMA IS THE COOLEST MAN EVER!!!

[em3]

I'd love to see President Obama replace some of the large green lawn at the White House with an organic garden!

[progressivepam]

That would be cool. How about sending some of the produce to some of the local low-income schools for their lunch programs?

[ReesieKitty]

I remember my entire childhood in the 70s, my dad walking around the house, turning off the lights after us and telling us we were wasting electricity! And that was before anybody even thought about being 'green'! Obama is a good dad and i can't wait to see him take the switching off of the lights to the next level in the White House! :)

[toypiano]

Same here. We heard "outen the light" all the time. Now, of course, I'm the same way. Thanks Dad!

[riverhouse]

There are a lot of things beyond the White House Obama and beyond investing in green technology (including the auto makers) that he can do. Subsidies for large building retrofits, rebates for energy efficient furnaces and air conditioners and household appliances, tax breaks for high efficiency / hybrid autos. Bush cut then stopped the tax incentive once offered for hybrid autos.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Isn't that what he plans to do?

[Harmony1812]

Yep. And putting sustainable energy on the grid for everyone to use. And using people to do this stuff creates jobs, another part of his plan.

[MyTake]

Barack Obama, on the campaign trail, you rarely mention hydrogen fuel cells and I only saw 1 ad where fuel cells were mentioned well down the list of clean coal, boifuels etc.

But here is your opportunity to turn the page, if you dare.

The newly constructed official residence of the Japanese Prime Minister has two hydrogen fuel cell electrical generators installed that are providing electricity and hot water.

The Sheraton Hotel chain is now installing hydrogen fuel cell generators throughout there chain. Verizon in NJ had a communications center that has 6 hydrogen fuel cell generators that powers their entire building.

I think you would do well, and lead by example, if you installed some of these in the White House and speak about these 100% eco friendly devices that will eventually empower the people with their own private source of electricity.

[andhakari]

Hydrogen is a little marginal, don't you think?

[tabaqui]

It wouldn't be if the President started some buzz about them. I've wanted to convert and use hydrogen fuel cells for ages, but they're too expensive. I hope all sorts of green technology that's currently languishing gets some exposure, and it seems our President-Elect is the man to do it!

[MyTake]

No.

The technology is being suppressed by the oil cartel and allied energy interlocks.

Bush said in his 2nd State of the Union address that "a child born today, in 20 years, will be driving hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles. Well, he was wrong. The technology is here and ready to go. The Honda FCX hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle is in now in production. KIA and Toyota will soon follow.

Here is a very pretty sight for a gas station, don't you think? http://got2begreen.com/green-infrastructure/alternative-energy/solar-powered-hydrogen-fuel-station-still-opens/

You can keep abreast of hydrogen developments here: http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/news1.html .

[Horus45]

Without an infrastructure for Hydrogen Refueling in this country wide spread use of Hydrogen Fuel Cells will not take off.
Someone, either a private firm or the government is going to have to make that investment before this is possible.
We cannot count of oil companies to make this investment, even though they would be the most logical to do it since they already have a whole infrastructure of gas stations.
Exxon/Mobil could have spent just one quarter's profits to put a hydrogen refueling station in every city in the US, but hey didn't and they won't.