Fewer Americans Bought Hybrid Cars in 2010; Green 'Movement' Fades, Harris Poll Finds

CNS News ^ | 1/11/2011 | Pete Winn

[markomalley]

(CNSNews.com) – Automakers beware! Hybrid cars may dominate at the Detroit Auto Show, but fewer Americans said they purchased a hybrid car in 2010 than in 2009, according to a new Harris Interactive Poll.

In fact, only 8 percent of those surveyed said they "purchased a hybrid or more fuel efficient car" in 2010. That compares with 13 percent who said they had in 2009.

Only 1 percent of Americans said they bought a hybrid car -- down from 2 percent the year before.

The poll, released on Monday,  also shows that fewer Americans overall are "going green," as compared to 2009.

In addition to purchasing a hybrid, American adults were less likely to engage in a host of "green" behaviors in their daily life in 2010, including:

-- "Making an effort to use less water" (57 percent in 2010 vs. 60 percent in 2009)

-- "Purchasing locally grown produce" (33 percent vs. 39 percent)

-- "Purchasing locally manufactured products" (23 percent vs. 29 percent)

-- "Purchasing organic products" (15 percent vs. 17 percent)

-- "Composting food and organic waste" (15 percent vs. 17 percent).

Americans were also less likely to have adopted certain environmental activities endorsed by the Green Movement in the past year.

Fewer Americans purchased Energy Star appliances in 2010 than in the year previous -- a 6 percent downward difference from 2009 to 2010. Fewer donated or recycled electronics (9 percent decline); switched from bottled to tap water (6 percent) or installed a low-flow showerhead or toilet (5 percent).

Only recycling (68 percent), carpooling (16 percent) and "walking or riding a bike rather than taking public transportation" (15 percent) were unchanged over the same period.

The pollster also said that not only are fewer Americans engaging in "green" behavior, they are also less likely to embrace -- or be influenced by -- "green" attitudes.

Only 28 percent of adults said environmental issues "are very or extremely important to them when deciding how to vote for political candidates," compared to more than 1 in 3 adults (36 percent) who said this was important to them in 2009.

Paradoxically, despite declines in American attitudes and actions concerning environmental issues, the poll also found that U.S. adults were more likely to describe themselves as “conservationist” (20 percent in 2010 vs. 17 percent in 2009), "green" (18 percent in 2010 vs. 13 percent in 2009), and environmentalist (16 percent /13 percent in 2009) than they were previously – though they continue to be a tiny minority.

Harris Interactive surveyed 2,352 U.S. adults (ages 18 and over) online from Nov. 8 to Nov. 15 of last year. No margin of error was given. 

[nickcarraway]

So a person who supports local farmers, merchants, and business is, “going green?”

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Green 'Movement' Fades, Harris Poll Finds

Is a green "movement" like a bowel "movement?"

[Marty62]

http://automobileandamericanlife.blogspot.com/2009/08/1960s-and-and-1970s-electric-car.html

Yeah the electric cars of the 60’s and 70’s were a big hit too...NOT.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[Bridge_toofar]

Not at all...bowel movement is much more brown.+

[chickadee]

This is what happens when the economy goes bad and the leader of the movement puts his adductors ahead of the cause. (boo hoody hoo)

[duckman]

They look like clown cars. Are big shoes, red ball nose and horn special order?

[albie]

So a person who supports local farmers, merchants, and business is, “going green?”

...no. But buying locally sticks it to the big companies. That’s the goal. No matter how much extra you have to pay.

[Le Chien Rouge]

A hybrid for the gay community.

[Marty62]

AND they were as UGLY as a wart on a witches nose.

They have tried to pretty them up now, but that is like putting lipstick on a pig.

Same thing with 3-D. It failed in the 50’s and will fail again.

No imagination. They keep trying to re-invent the wheel. Somethings should just be left to the dust bin of history.

[discostu]

Reducing your “product miles” is one of the green talking points.

[Sacajaweau]

Saw a program this AM. Volt was voted the car of the year. I swear....

[RU88]

This is all a function of cost, primarily the cost of gasoline. When gas was $4 plus a gallon people were looking at hybrids and compact cars. Gas went down and people bought bigger cars, trucks, and SUVs. The way things are going with our energy policy, or lack thereof, is that most of us will be pushed into purchasing smaller, lighter, and more unsafe vehicles to satisfy Obama’s jihad against fossil fuels.

[upchuck]

...the poll also found that U.S. adults were more likely to describe themselves as “conservationist”, "green", and environmentalist than they were previously – though they continue to be a tiny minority.

Paging Lisa Jackson... stuff this up yer pipe and smoke it.

[EyeGuy]

“They look like clown cars.”

####

Well they certainly make me laugh out loud everytime I see one.

Thank God they are still relatively rare here in the saner Midwest, otherwise I would have wrecked my big assed, politically incorrect, yet safe and powerful, SUV due to helpless laughter by now.

[steelyourfaith]

Thanx AAC !

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[netmilsmom]

What is wrong with big companies? I like my Diet Coke and Craftsman tools. I also like local produce but I do not buy it to stick it to anyone.

[dead]

Frivilous fads and causes fall by the wayside in tough economic times.

Try not to pollute, it's unseemly. But CO2 is not a pollutant, despite what Al Gore says.

[brownsfan]

When the economy is going well, and there are people who aren’t worried about their jobs and money, you’ll have a percentage who indulge in things like going green.

Those people will spend the $30k it takes to buy a Prius so they can make their statement, and feel good about themselves.

When times get tougher, and jobs aren’t so stable, that $16k Hyundai Elantra which does EVERYTHING better than a Prius, starts to look pretty good.