How Energy Efficient Are You?

Please feel free to answer the following questions…
I am a student from the University of Ulster currently undergoing research on attitudes towards energy saving measures and climate change/ green consumerism in the current economic climate. The importance of behavioural change is needed and should be encouraged for individuals to ‘change their habits’ and be better ecological citizens to prevent the consequences of our consumer behaviour, damaging the environment.
The questions that are used in this questionnaire are solely for the use of my research for my dissertation. The questionnaire is to be completed anonymously and you will not be treated as an individual participant. Please answer as truthfully as possible.
Many thanks
PART 1
Personal Details
1) Male/ Female
2) Age- under 18
18-35
36-59
60+
PART 2
Q3) Please state how you feel to the following statements
Climate change is a major issue that needs to be addressed now
There needs to be greater public awareness and understanding of energy generation and consumption
Responsibility for combating climate change starts in the HOME
Q4) Please state if you do any of the following in your household.
(a) Do you use energy saving light bulbs
Yes No Sometimes
b) Do you re-use plastic bags/use environmentally friendly bags
Yes No Sometimes
c) Do you turn off appliances/lights when not in use
Yes No Sometimes
d) Do you recycle
Yes No Sometimes
If yes what do you recycle and how often?
e) Leave appliances on standby
Yes No Sometimes
f) Leave the water running while washing/brushing teeth
Yes No Sometimes
g) Wash clothes at 40 rather than 30 degrees
Yes No Sometimes
h) Use public transport more than driving a car
Yes No Sometimes
Q5) Do you feel that it is due to Habits which makes you reluctant to change your routine to be more environmentally friendly?
Agree Disagree Not sure (please explain briefly your answer)
Q6) a) Do you feel you could do more to reduce you carbon footprint? (
Yes No Not sure
b) If YES will you do anything in the near future to reduce your energy consumption?
Q7) Have you adopted or would consider Energy saving measures in your home?
Power from Renewable energy resources
Yes No Would consider it
Home improvements E.g. (Double glazing, loft insulation
Yes No Would consider it
Energy efficient appliances
Yes No Would consider it
Q8) Which of the following options matches reasons for not implementing more measures for being more environmentally friendly. (May stste more than one option)
Lack of awareness
Too expensive
Too much effort
No interest in the environment
Difficult to change routine
Other (please state)
Q9) Which of the following would be the main incentives for you to manage your consumption patterns
(May tick more than one option)
Financial
Eco- Friendly home
Feel good factor
Positive influence on others
Better for the environment
Other (please state)
Part 3
The questions below are related to changing attitudes and consumption patterns. Please state whether you agree/ disagree or are not sure to the statements.
Please circle appropriate answer and you may give a brief explanation
Q10) A) Individual action alone will not make any difference so why bother being an ‘ecological citizen’
Agree/ Disagree/ Not sure
B) I encourage penalties/ fines and enforcement actions upon large companies that are substantial carbon emitters
Agree/ Disagree/ Not sure
C) Breaking habits is difficult for an individual, being part of a group and encouraging community citizenship would encourage me to change consumption patterns
Agree/Disagree/Not sure
D) Green consumerism and Green products is just a money making scheme for large companies as opposed to being ‘environmentally friendly’
Agree/ Disagree/ Not sure
E) The Government should support local community action by funding programmes for behavioural change
Agree/ Disagree/ Not sure
F) Value for money/the quality of the product/the function of the product is more important than energy saving
Agree/ Disagree/ Not sure
G) Telling people how to behave is not always practical; people buy what is within their budget limitations regardless of the consequences on the environment
Agree/ Disagree/ Not

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Doesn’t the fact chlorophyll reflects green light make it less efficient at absorbing energy than a darker chemical? Plants seem to be green the world over, regardless of the amount of sunlight available – why aren’t they shades of grey? (i.e. lighter in regions where there is ‘too much’ light, and darker in regions where there is less light available)

How Are Going To Get The General Population To Become More Energy Efficient And To Think ‘green’?

I’ve always thought that one of the biggest challenges to energy conservation is going to get most of the population to think ‘green’. It seems to me that a lot of people don’t want to be bothered to recycle anything, let alone stop driving gas guzzlers to go from one point to another. Or sacrifice a little comfort by keeping the heat levels low during the winter time, or the cooling on the high side during the summertime.
Is the state ever going to start policing people regarding this? I don’t think anyone wants that, but who’s going to look after what’s good for the planet and the future generations of people to come.
I’d like to hear from anyone who has a better outlook for our environment than I do.

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