Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

1. Household Actions to Limit Global Warming

1.1. Many Americans have purchased energy-efficient products and appliances.

Many Americans have deliberately purchased energy-efficient products and appliances. Specifically, about half of Americans (52%) have deliberately bought an energy-efficient kitchen appliance. Additionally, three in ten or more have deliberately bought an energy-efficient water heater (39%), an energy-efficient home air conditioner (38%) or a car that averages 30 miles per gallon or more (37%), and 28% have purchased an energy-efficient home furnace. Fewer have deliberately bought services from businesses that are explicitly eco-friendly (18%) or electricity generated from renewable energy sources (12%).

1.2. A majority of Americans set their thermostat to energy-saving temperatures.

A majority of Americans (62%) set their thermostats to 68 degrees or cooler in the winter at least sometimes, including 27% who say they “always” do this, 18% who say they “often” do this, and 17% who say they “sometimes” do.  Similarly, a majority (54%) set their thermostats to 76 degrees or warmer in the summer or use less air conditioning at least sometimes, including 18% who say they “always” do this, 15% who say they “often” do this, and 21% who say they “sometimes” do this.

1.3. Most Americans use energy-efficient lightbulbs in their homes.

The vast majority of Americans (89%) use energy-efficient lightbulbs (CFLs or LEDs)Until April 2014, the question asked in the survey was worded: “How many of the light bulbs in your home are high energy-efficiency compact fluorescents (CFLs)?” The current wording, with the addition of LEDs, was used from October 2014 onward. in their homes, including about seven in ten (71%) who say “all” or “most” of their lightbulbs are energy efficient. The proportion who say “all” or “most” of their lighting is energy efficient is 31 percentage points higher than when we first asked this question in November 2008.

1.4. Many Americans make efforts to eat less red meat and compost food waste.

About six in ten Americans (63%) make efforts to eat less red meat (beef, lamb, pork), including 9% who say they “always” make such efforts, 19% who say they “often” do so, and 35% who say they “sometimes” do so. About one in four Americans (26%) say they compost food waste, including 10% who “always” compost food waste, 6% who “often” compost, and 10% who “sometimes” compost.

1.5. About three in ten Americans have engaged in consumer activism on global warming.

About three in ten Americans (31%) have rewarded companies that are taking steps to reduce global warming by buying their products in the past 12 months, and about two in ten (22%) have punished companies that are opposing steps to reduce global warming by not buying their products. The proportion of Americans who say they have rewarded companies that are taking steps to reduce global or punished companies that are opposing steps to reduce global warming have waxed and waned slightly over time, and are currently at levels similar to when we first asked these questions in November 2008.