SURVEY RESULTS: Americans’ Actions to Conserve Energy, Reduce Waste and Limit Global Warming

Reposted from KAB Community Matters Newsletter, February 2010
Conducted by Yale Project on Climate Change and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication

Americans Favor Conservation, But Few Practice It

Most Americans like the idea of conservation, but few practice it in their everyday lives, according to the results of a national survey recently released by researchers at Yale and George Mason universities.

A majority of Americans say that it is “very important” or “somewhat important” to turn off unneeded lights (92%), to lower the thermostat in winter (83%), and to use public transportation or a carpool (73%), among other conservation behaviors.

Yet the study found that:
- 88% of Americans say it is important to recycle at home, but only 51 percent “often” or “always” do;
- 81% say it is important to use re-usable shopping bags, but only 33 percent “often” or “always” do;
- 76% say it is important to buy locally grown food, but only 26 percent “often” or “always” do; and
- 76% say it is important to walk or bike instead of drive, but only 15 percent “often” or “always” do.

The results come from a nationally representative survey of 1,001 American adults, age 18 and older. The survey was designed by researchers at Yale and George Mason universities and conducted from Dec. 24, 2009, to Jan. 3, 2010, by Knowledge Networks, using an online research panel of American adults.

More information can be found here.