Going Green? Readers Tell KeenForGreen it’s Too Expensive, Inconvenient, Time Consuming

In a recent KeenForGreen.com survey 76% of respondents described “living green” as important. Seventy-eight percent admitted to experiencing roadblocks to changing daily green habits.
 
The number one obstacle preventing people from being green is cost.  Of those surveyed, 36% cited cost as their number one roadblock. If money were not an obstacle, 37% of respondents would purchase solar panels and 23% would buy electric vehicles.
 
Twenty-one percent of participants cited inconvenience as their main reason for not being more eco-conscious, followed by forgetfulness at 12%.  Work, family, and other daily responsibilities interfere with peoples’ ability to engage in more eco-friendly practices a daily basis.
 
One respondent explained, “I don’t have a lot of time or money to devote to [being green], but I do the best I can with the resources I have. I care about sustainability, but our society doesn’t consider it a priority so we have limited accessibility to public transportation, telecommuting, reusing our water.”
 
In addition to these obstacles, most people have daily habits they are unwilling to give up, regardless of the negative impact on the environment.  Of those surveyed, 39% are unwilling to give up their electric/gas clothes dryer; 37% are unwilling to trade in solo driving for options such as carpooling, biking, or taking public transportation; and 28% refuse to give up their long showers. Only 25% of respondents reported that they were always willing to change their habits for the betterment of the environment. 
 
“I hate to say it,” confessed one survey-taker, “but [being green] is just easier to do when it’s already gone mainstream instead of being leader or first-follower.”
 
“These results demonstrate the importance of increasing accessibility of environmental products and services,” said KeenForGreen founder, Mark Munroe. “That might mean making products more affordable or financing easier to obtain. As we’ve seen in the solar industry, the combination of government financial incentives and innovative solar lease financing options, has really moved the industry forward.”
 
The survey was conducted online by KeenForGreen.com, a community-based, green living website using Survey Monkey. 131 people from 21 states responded.  Participants averaged 35 years old, ranging from 18 to 63.  They were recruited via blogs, websites, and social media.   Read more about this survey and eco-living at www.keenforgreen.com.
 
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If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Mark Munroe, please call (510) 325-4606 or e-mail michelle@keenforgreen.com.

Contact Information

Michelle Fitzpatrick

Business Development

Keen For Green

(1) 510-325-4606

michelle@keenforgreen.com