Canadians Taking Some Action to Reduce Greenhouse Gases, But Don't Consider Their Homes a Major Source of Emissions

Monday, June 18, 2007

TORONTO, June 18 /CNW/ - A new poll conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Icynene has found more than three-quarters (79%) of Canadian homeowners claim to have taken 'some' or 'a lot' of action to reduce greenhouse gases, yet only three per cent believe their homes and offices contribute most to apparent increases in greenhouse gas emissions.

The poll of more than 1,200 Canadian homeowners found nearly a third (31%) admit they don't know much about environmental issues and the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and only 16% claim to have done 'a lot' to reduce emissions in their own homes.

With the operation of buildings accounting for as much as 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in this country (source: Canada Green Building Council), learning from the poll suggests Canadians could play a far greater role than they might think in reducing greenhouse gases at home.

Greenfluence: Harper vs. home improvement store

Ipsos Reid asked Canadian homeowners who would most influence them to take more action on reducing greenhouse gases. According to the poll, a building organization such as the Canada Green Building Council (49%) and Dr. David Suzuki (47%), the face of environmentalism in Canada, are the most likely to influence homeowner action on greenhouse gases.

Canadians, however, seem to have little faith in the guidance of elected politicians on environmental issues:

Canadians are just as likely to be influenced to do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an employee of a home improvement store (16%) as by Prime Minister Stephen Harper (15%)
A TV home improvement personality (37%) is more than two and a half times as likely to influence action as Prime Minister Harper (15%)

Taking action at home

The poll asked Canadians what specific steps they have taken at home in the past two years to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency:

83% have turned down the heat during the winter
61% have sealed air leaks
46% have turned down the air conditioning during the summer
38% have added insulation
29% have switched to a high efficiency heating system

Jon Eakes, Canada's longest-standing TV home improvement expert, believes homeowners are taking steps in the right direction, but there's room for them to have a greater impact on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.

"Air sealing, one of the most common steps, is frequently achieved by sealing and caulking piecemeal around windows and doors," says Eakes, "yet home energy consumption can be reduced by up to 50% alone with an insulation, like Icynene, that insulates and reduces air leaks in one step throughout the home during renovations or construction."

Banning bulbs

With respect to the role of energy conservation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Canadian homeowners were asked what plays the most important role in helping to conserve energy in a home:

Despite some provincial government plans to phase out incandescent lighting, few Canadians (7%) believe compact fluorescent lighting plays the most important role in energy conservation
Canadians believe using energy efficient heating and cooling (26%), sealing air leaks through windows and doors (25%) and adding insulation (18%) play the most important role in energy conservation

Canadians claim more knowledge, action than U.S. counterparts

Results of an identical Ipsos Reid-Icynene poll with 1,200 U.S. homeowners reveal some interesting comparisons with Canadians:

More Americans (46%) than Canadians (31%) agree they do not know much about the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment
More Americans (36%) than Canadians (21%) say they've done little or nothing at all to help reduce greenhouse gases
More Canadians (22%) than Americans (13%) have reduced their car use in favour of public transit
Like Canadians, Americans (16%) are just as likely to be influenced to do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an employee at a home improvement store (16%) as by their president, George W. Bush

"One of the most powerful ways Canadians can take personal action directed at greenhouse gas reduction is to examine energy conservation opportunities at home," says Eakes. "If more Canadians took steps such as ensuring there is absolutely no air leakage when insulating there could be a widespread benefit in terms of energy savings, healthier, longer-lasting homes and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions."

About the poll

The Ipsos Reid poll was conducted on behalf of Icynene between April 19 and April 23, 2007. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1,285 adult homeowners was interviewed online. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within +/-2.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population been polled.

About Jon Eakes

Jon Eakes is one of television's longest standing home improvement experts. His practical consumer-friendly tips and real-life solutions have connected with consumers through programs such as House Hot Line (Life Network) and Just Ask Jon Eakes (HGTV and the Do-It-Yourself Network).

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