NYPost

HYPOCRITE STREISAND TAKES THE HEAT

By BRADEN KEIL

Barbra Streisand is urging her fans to be more energy efficient - but she's not practicing what she preaches.

She still flies on fossil fuel-sucking private jets, roams the roads in gas-guzzling limos and SUVs, and vacations on big power boats.

She routinely keeps the central air conditioning blasting frigid air in her many homes - including her Manhattan penthouse - even when she's thousands of miles away.

"She is someone who cannot be hot, not even for a minute," says a Streisand confidant. "Maybe it's menopause, but she refuses to sweat. She has her trainers over and it's like 30 degrees in her house. She freaks if she walks into a warm room."

A far cry from the energy-conservation advice on her Web site (www.barbrastreisand.com), where she implores fellow Californians to turn their thermostats up to 78 degrees when they're home, and 85 degrees when they're out.

"She'd melt like the wicked witch in 'The Wizard of Oz' if her place was 78 degrees, much less 85," our source noted.

When asked what, if any, of the energy-saving advice on the Streisand Web site was being followed by the conservation-crusading star, her spokesman told a reporter last week, "She never meant that it necessarily applied to her."

In her Central Park West triplex, which has been for sale for the past two years, the multizone air conditioning keeps the 16 rooms as cold as a meat locker.

"At this point, it's just cold storage for all of her furs," growled one recent visitor.

To insure that the ice princess doesn't thaw out, or melt, Streisand has installed a separate, industrial-size air-conditioning system just to keep her cavernous master bedroom super cool.

On the West Coast, Streisand is an energy-consuming machine, sharing not one, but three houses with actor-Aamco-pitchman hubby James Brolin.

The houses are on three acres of Malibu oceanfront - along with two pools, saunas, hot tubs, and lush landscaping that's kept in pristine condition by 10 full-time gardeners.

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2001

Answers

Her original statement was posted on the new timebomb 2000, and my comment was and is: Sounds like she is running for office. Look out Gray Davis!

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2001

She might have briefly considered it and even discussed it with high-ranking Dems. But I think she might have been persuaded that it would be better to use her influence (and money) to help many Dems get elected nationwide. I just can't see her kissing babies, let alone shaking hands with the peasants.

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2001