Roper Study: More Americans Plan To Go Green In 2008

December 17, 2007 8:28 p.m. EST

New York City, NY (AHN) - A new study by New York-based GfK finds that 75 percent of Americans plan to be more environmentally responsible in 2008 by reducing their energy consumption and recycling more. Two-thirds plant to cut their use of household chemicals, while 42 percent said they will use fabric bags when doing their grocery to reduce the use of plastic.

Rob Densen, chief executive of Tiller, which commissioned the study, said, "When it comes to life choices, green is clearly a primary color. Americans are viewing the environmental impact of their actions with increased responsibility and deliberation."

The individual choice to turn green is in stark contrast to the U.S. government's decision to be the remaining industrialized nation yet to sign the Kyoto Protocol.

The first installment of the study released on October said 74 percent of Americans favor local government regulations that will require newly built homes to be more energy efficient even if it will jack up costs by $7,500. But the initial investment will yield savings in utility bills of $17,500 spread over 30 years.

Other local climate change policies that Americans will likely support include a $5 monthly property tax to build a local subsidy fund to help homeowners replace old heating and cooling systems with more energy efficient units, $8.50 more for local utility firms to convert their energy grids to use at least 20 percent renewable energy source and amendment of zoning regulations to allow mixed use of communities.

GfK uses telephone surveys covering 1,000 adult Americans. The study was done between December 7 and 9.

Commenting on the growing American resolve to turn green in 2008, Densen said, "Let's hope that Americans are more successful at reducing waste and energy consumption than we are at reducing our waistlines."