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

[scooterdog]

I've asked for awhile now, "What if every government building had solar panels on top? Every office, school, police dept., motor vehicles dept., etc.? Think of how much money that would save and what a great model it would be." After the Prez elect greens up the white house, hopefully it will trickle down to all other gov't buildings, and then to every home and business.

Here in San Diego, a business has put up solar panels over their parking lot, shading the cars and producing energy at the same time. Another model to consider.

[toypiano]

Love the solar panels over the parking lot, brilliant (pun acknowledged, not intended). If solar panels become ubiquitous, what kind of security is required? I guess what I mean is: can they be made to withstand garden-variety vandalism pretty easily, or do large-scale solar panel installations require round-the-clock security? Not talking about roof-top panels on private homes, but rather the ones we might see powering offices, schools, public buildings, etc. Just wondering about their sustainability.

[LeftLeanWing]

Make them large and heavy.

[Harmony1812]

I live in Florida and 50 years ago people had them. They did not flow away in hurricanes. They were there forever until people took them off because they thought they were ugly.

[joycehelene]

Wonderful Mr. President-elect, I hope the American people follow your sound advice. I have always tried to conserve resources and not waste and if we all did our bit the world would be a better place. As for Melia working at the Lincoln Desk, if she has permission that would be a great idea. My grandchildren do their homework without any coaxing from their parents and I am sure that Melia does also. As for chores, learn how to take care of your own things when you are young, it will carry you right through life, I like the idea that even in the White House young people need responsibilities. What a wonderful new family we will be have living in the White House, an inspiration to all!!!

[Harmony1812]

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[Sarita]

Hmmmm...no­w where did they put those solar panels that Carter had installed?

[FR]

WHY did Reagan take them down? You couldn't see them could you?
Were they a Socialist/Communist plot? Was it more patriotic to consume as much as possible? Or was this just gratuitous politics?

[NationalTreasure]

those solar panels were taken down by the idiotic Reagan administration
over the last 28 years the failed environmental and energy policies of the Reagan/Bush/Bush administrations and the republicans have exacerbated out the problems with our petro-chemical demands while undermining our national security
even now the republicans will not admit that if they had allowed the environmental and energy policies of the Carter administration stand we would be well into our tenth year of independence from foreign oil imports

[em3]

It's interesting that the roof of the White House is now occupied by those men in black in recent years carrying guns as they survey the American people below. Could there be a connecting with the solar panels they tore out? I see one. War for oil.

[MagicalPossibilities]

Reagan removed the originals, but actually in 2002/2003 an extensive new system was installed by the National Park Service (which maintains the White House grounds, technically a National Park).

So, while I'm sure Bush doesn't give a rat's behind one way or another, the White House now has a PV and thermal system that provides some power to the place and heats the presidential spa and pool. It's a start - hope Obama expands it.

Read more here: http://blog.coolerplanet.com/2008/03/08/solar-panels-at-the-white-house/

[ensure]

Barack Obama says he once aspired to be an architect: http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/11/barack-obama-says-he-once-aspired-to-be-an-architect.html

Barack Obama's Coming to D.C., But Will He Go Out? http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/11/barack-obamas-coming-to-dc-but-will-he-go-out.html

[wezcoz]

Obama's Inauguration Day Poem, (click or copy/paste address) Go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ZRYgX_F6Y



(You may have to hit refresh-if you get an unavailable message)

[Wilburrr]

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.... the Greenhouse address? Wouldn't it need a LOT more glass?

[marcosweb]

it's going to take a lot more than shutting off a few light bulbs.

http://www.livinggreenmag.com/

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

so nice to have a prez who sets such a good example...­....not to keep sounding like such an @ss kissing sycophant but

HE

IS

THE

B0MB!!!!!!!!

[johnnycmlately]

Is this guy 4real?? I mean, don't gt me wrong because i can dig it, but the Prez turning the WH green? Cool.

[lioness39]

Knowing him, he'll do just that. This is an amazing guy.

[Harmony1812]

If Bush tried to Green the White House, he would just paint it.

[islanbatman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuBb88ga19U

[Northlite]

Very nice!

There is no doubt in my mind that Obama not only talks a good game, but walks the walk. He is clearly taking both a personal and policy interest in energy conservation. This comes out of both his character and his intellect, uniting our need to save the planet and reduce our national security-t­hreatening dependence on foreign oil with his thriftiness. I just don't see him letting all the perks go to his head. And he will be modeling "right living" to the nation and the world. Good for him.

[darthdarcy]

Really Great Mr. President elect, start growing Industrial Hemp on the front lawn and put the solar panels back up on the roof Reagan tore down..!

[honestpolitician]

Obama has it right it making their house green and it's not that hard....I learned from http://myhomemadeenergy.org/ and gained a LOT of great tips that has saved me $50 off my heating/AC bill alone....h­ighly recommended

[rockyb26]

thank you for leading by example president obama.

[isis]

I hope he can do it. We need a president who cares about the whole planet.