green lifestylesurvey 041110

Green Lifestyle Survey ResultsApril 2010

Background The Green Lifestyle Survey was issued during April of 2010 and completed by 1,050 people.

The focus of this survey was to “take the eco-pulse” of America and determine how much Americans are concerned about, and take action to protect the environment. Some of the questions address:

• Are people truly as green as they say they are?

• Do they engage in green activities on a regular basis?

• Do they use environmental sensitivity as a means for evaluating an employer?

• Does a person’s passion for the environment affect his or her personal relationships and who they date?

• What would an American be willing to give up to avoid climate change and global warming altogether?

The results are somewhat surprising… read ahead and find out.

Green Lifestyle Survey | The Green Workplace 2

DemographicsParticipants in this survey were:

• All users of Facebook.

• All from the United States or U.S. territories and distributed fairly evenly across the country.

• More female than male (2/3 female).

• Aged 21-91, and most evenly distributed between 21 and 60.

• College educated, in that eighty-nine percent of respondents claimed to have had “some college,” “college graduate” or “post grad” education.

• Primarily progressive politically, though data from roughly 7% Republican and Libertarian participants are included.


SummaryQuestion asked: Is climate change (global warming) something you are concerned about?

• 85% of the total respondents said “moderately concerned” or “very concerned”

• More women said “moderately concerned” or “very concerned” (89%) than men (76%)

• Difference in response based on political preference. Only 35% of Republicans said “moderately concerned” or “very concerned” vs. the Democrat and Green supporters, who claimed to be 92% and 91% respectively.

• Some difference in how people responded by age, but this does not appear to be statistically significant.


Question asked: Do you consider yourself a "green" person?

• 71% of the total respondents said “moderately green” or “dark green”

• More women said “moderately green” or “dark green” (77%) than men (60%)

• Difference in response based on political preference. Only 43% of Republicans said “moderately green” or “dark green” vs. the Democrat and Green supporters, who claimed to be 73% and 89% respectively.


SummaryQuestion asked: Have you ever measured your carbon footprint?

• The response to this question was consistent across the board. Roughly 30% of respondents have measured their carbon footprint.

Question asked: What activities do you engage in at home?

• The most common answer from respondents was that they “always” recycle paper, cans and plastic.

• The most common answer was that they “often” use reusable bags for shopping and reusable mugs and bottles. They also run equipment at off-peak times and buy eco friendly products “often.”

• The most common answer was that they “sometimes” unplug equipment when not in use, shop at local farmer’s markets and donate to green or environmentally friendly causes.

• The most common answer was that they “never” recycle batteries, compost, carpool, bike or walk to work.


Question asked: Is commitment to green/environmental issues a factor for you in choosing an employer?

• 47% of the total respondents said “moderately important” or “very important”

• More women said “moderately important” or “very important” (52%) than men (37%)

• Difference in response based on political preference. Only 23% of Republicans said “moderately important” or “very important,” Libertarians said this 26% of the time vs. the Democrat and Green supporters, who said this 48% and 69% of the time respectively.

• With regard to age, there seems to be an increase in how important is to have a green employer with age.

SummaryQuestion asked: I wish my employer were more committed to addressing green/environmental issues.

• 82% of the total respondents said “agree” or “strongly agree”

• More women said said “agree” or “strongly agree” (86%) than men (76%)

• Difference in response based on political preference. Only 47% of Republicans said “agree” or “strongly agree” vs. the Democrat and Green supporters, who claimed to be 86% and 92% respectively.



Question asked: Would you be willing to take a pay cut to work for a more green/environmentally conscious organization?

• 49% of the total respondents said “yes”

• More women said “yes” (51%) than men (44%)

• Difference in response based on political preference. Here’s the spread:

• Green 72%• Independents 52%• Democrats 49%• Libertarians26%• Republicans 15%


SummaryQuestion asked: All things being equal, I would be willing to pay more for a more environmentally friendly product.

• 93% of the total respondents said they would be willing to pay more for an environmentally friendly product; 63% said they would be willing to pay “10% or more” and 5% said they would pay “double or more” for a product

• 69% of women are willing to pay “10% or more” for a product, more than 50% of men

• 89% of respondents who are Green politically would pay “10% or more” for a product, compared to 68% of Democrats, 54% of Independents, 32% of Libertarians and 32% of Republicans.



Question asked: Would you go on a date with someone who...

• Very few people claim they would go on a date with a person who hunted endangered animals (3% said “yes,” 4% say “maybe”)

• Also, a significant number of people claim they would go on a date with someone who drives a Hummer (12% said “yes,” 17% said “maybe”)

• 33% of women claimed that “no” they are not willing to go on a date with someone who does not recycle (compared to 15% of men)

• Difference in response based on political preference. Here’s who said “no:”


• With regard to age, there seems to be an increase in how important is to date a “green” person with age

SummaryQuestion asked: What would you be willing to do... to stop climate change? Would you...

• 54% of total respondents would be willing to give up meat for a year or more , 39% would be willing to do so forever (24% said “no way!”)

• 42% of total respondents would be willing to give up their car for a year or more , 24% would be willing to do so forever (38% said “no way!”)

• 17% of total respondents would be willing to give up salary for a year or more , 7% would be willing to do so forever (60% said “no way!”)

• 21% of total respondents would be willing to give up sex for a year or more , 8% would be willing to do so forever (62% said “no way!”)

• 15% of total respondents would be willing to give up their spouse for a year or more , 11% would be willing to do so forever (79% said “no way!”)


Question asked: What would you be willing to do... to stop climate change? Would you give up salary?

• 17% of women respondents would be willing to give up salary for “one year or more” (vs. 15% of men) , 6% would be willing to do so forever (vs. 8% of men), 58% said “no way!” (vs. 65% of men)

• Difference in response based on political preference. Here’s so said they would give up salary for “one year or more:”


SummaryQuestion asked: What would you be willing to do... to stop climate change? Would you give up sex?

• 24% of women respondents would be willing to give up sex for “one year or more” (vs. 12% of men) , 10% would be willing to do so forever (vs. 3% of men), 54% said “no way!” (vs. 75% of men)

• Difference in response based on political preference. Here’s so said they would give up sex for “one year or more:”

• Green 30%• Democrat 23%• Independent 16%• Republican 9%• Libertarian 0%


Question asked: What would you be willing to do... to stop climate change? Would you give up your spouse?

• 14% of women respondents would be willing to give up their spouse for “one year or more” (vs. 15% of men) , 11% would be willing to do so forever (vs. 12% of men), 78% said “no way!” (vs. 81% of men)

• Difference in response based on political preference. Here’s so said they would give up their spouse for “one year or more:”

• Green 16%• Democrat 15%• Independent 14%• Republican 13%• Libertarian 6%

Green Lifestyle Survey | The Green Workplace10

How concerned are you?Question asked: Is climate change (global warming) something you are concerned about?

This chart shows data by GENDER.

N=988



This chart shows data by AGE.

N=909



This chart shows data by POLITICAL AFFILIATION.

N=921


How green are you?Question asked: Do you consider yourself a "green" person?


N=988




N=909




N=921


How green are you?Question asked: Have you ever measured your carbon footprint?

This chart shows data for ALL PARTICIPANTS.

N=988


How green are you?Question asked: What activities do you engage in at home?


N=166

Never Sometimes Often Always

Recyle paper7% 12% 17%

65%

Recycle cans (metals)9% 7% 9%

75%

Recycle plastic8% 5% 18%

69%

Recycle batteries33% 21% 17% 29%

Use reusable bags for

shopping 11% 24% 35% 30%

Use refillable mugs/bottles

instead of disposable 7% 19% 43% 30%

Compost53% 21% 7% 19%


How green are you?Question asked: What activities do you engage in at home?


N=166

Never Sometimes Often Always

Unplug equipment when

not in use 16% 41% 28% 15%

Turn off lights when you're

not in the room 1% 6% 28% 65%

Run dishwashers and

washing machines at off

peak times 12% 26% 34% 28%

Buy eco-friendly products4% 40% 45% 11%

Carpool42% 38% 12% 8%

Bike or walk to work54% 16% 11% 18%

Shop at local farmer's

markets or co-ops for food 13% 52% 27% 8%

Donate to green or

environmentally-friendly

causes33% 43% 17% 8%


How green are you?Question asked: Is commitment to green/environmental issues a factor for you in choosing an employer?


N=988




N=909




N=921


How green are you?Question asked: I wish my employer were more committed to addressing green/environmental issues.


N=988




N=909




N=921


How green are you?Question asked: Would you be willing to take a pay cut to work for a more green/environmentally conscious organization?


N=988




N=909




N=921


How green are you?Question asked: All things being equal, I would be willing to pay more for a more environmentally friendly product.


N=988




N=909




N=921


How green are you?Question asked: Would you go on a date with someone who...


N=952


How green are you?Question asked: Would you go on a date with someone who does not recycle?


N=988




N=909




N=921


How green are you?Question asked: What would you be willing to do... to stop climate change? Would you...


N=952


How green are you?Question asked: What would you be willing to do... to stop climate change? Would you give up salary?


N=952


How green are you?Question asked: What would you be willing to do... to stop climate change? Would you give up sex?


N=952


How green are you?Question asked: What would you be willing to do... to stop climate change? Would you give up your spouse?


N=952

green lifestylesurvey 041110

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