Aww crap, didn't want to get into this one
But you just said exactly the right thing to get me to jump in.
The only place Bush has ever been "leading" energy policy was in the direction that the energy companies wanted him to. Has he spoken out about reducing personal energy usage? Has he supported tax breaks for efficiency upgrades? Has he advocated equivalent efficiency upgrades (similar to his house) for industry? If not then he's not really "leading" anyway. He's following.
This sounds like one of two things happening. Either: Bush knows that the long-term cost of an energy efficient home is really lower than the alternative, but didn't care to enact legislation to help less-wealthy people achieve the same gains for themselves. Or: Bush knows (or listens to someone who knows) that building a house like this provides a convenient talking point for Republicans who want to oppose environmentalism.
