Americans want to save energy

Many Americans have taken measures to reduce energy use and many others can do the same if they can, according to a national survey conducted by Yale and George Mason University.

About half of 2,164 American adults surveyed in the September and October surveys said they have taken important steps to save energy for indoor use - and a significant amount - about 10 and 20% - said they planned to save energy next year.Almost two-thirds of the participants said they wanted to buy fuel-efficient cars, but more than one third said they could not afford to pay.

Anthony Leiserowitz, director of Yale University's Climate Change Project and principal investigator of the survey, said: 'A lot of Americans are ready, willing and able to save. energy at home and on the road. Others are ready and willing but need help. The national strategy to conserve energy and invest in energy efficiency will receive the help of the American people. '

While saving money is the most common reason for people to take energy-saving measures - including cutting off attic power, bringing thermostats to energy saving mode and buying fuel-efficient cars. - a large number of participants said their motives include efforts to reduce global warming, humanitarian action, and energy-saving measures that make them feel more comfortable.Participants also said they believed that implementing energy-saving measures would improve - not reduce - the quality of life.

Americans want to take energy-saving measures. (Photo: whitehorsedc.gov.uk)

Edward Maibach, professor and director of George Manson's Climate Change Center and researcher, said: 'This data shows that a large number of Americans want to use it. less energy and they have a lot of reasons to do so. We think that this survey also ends the notion that Americans feel that saving energy is a sacrifice. In contrast, many people believe that saving energy will improve their quality of life. '

The survey also shows that energy efficiency and energy conservation barriers are the biggest concerns of a large number of Americans.Financial costs - unable to pay for energy-saving measures - are the most important barrier to improving energy efficiency in US families. This is especially true for people who currently have a heating or cooling system in their home or a car that is convenient but not energy efficient.

The report concludes that reducing this barrier 'may need to develop another financial model (to help people implement energy-saving measures), for example, how phone providers The handset eliminates prepaid costs by addressing the cost of the phone through the monthly service fee '.

Survey: 'Energy saving at home and on the road: survey of energy saving habits, intentions, motives and barriers of Americans' by the Center for Law and Environmental Policy of Yale, Surdna Foundation, 11-Hour Project, and Pacific Fund. The survey participants completed two separate questionnaires, two weeks apart.

Copy of the report can be downloaded from the address: http://climatechange.gmu.edu.