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Full Survey Results: 2009 Energy Learning CurveTM Report



This report was based on interviews with a national random sample of 1,001 adults over the age of 18 conducted between January 15 and January 30, 2009. Over 90 survey questions were asked, covering each facet of the “triple threat.” The margin of error for the overall sample is plus or minus four percentage points.

Results of less than 0.5 are marked by an asterisk (*). Results of zero are marked by an en dash (–).

Responses may not always total 100 percent due to rounding. Combining answer categories may produce slight discrepancies between the numbers in these survey results and numbers in the report.

Total
[Questions 1 to 5] Using an A-F scale where “A” means excellent and “F” means failure, what grade would you give the United States overall when it comes to…
01. Reducing its dependence on foreign oil?
A 5
B 9
C 25
D 29
F 25
Don't Know 6
02. And what grade would you give the United States when it comes to its efforts to reduce global warming?
A 10
B 13
C 32
D 22
F 14
Don't Know 6
03. And what grade would you give the U.S. government for keeping energy costs affordable?
A 7
B 12
C 31
D 25
F 21
Don't Know 3
04. And what grade would you give the U.S. government for developing alternative energy sources?
A 7
B 14
C 31
D 28
F 15
Don't Know 5
05. And what grade would you give the U.S. government for cooperating with other countries to reduce global warming?
A 10
B 17
C 29
D 18
F 12
Don't Know 11
06. Here is a list of things some people worry about and others do not. For each, please tell me if you worry a lot or worry somewhat about it, or if you do not worry about it at all.
Increases in the cost of gas and fuel
Worry a lot 57
Worry somewhat 31
Do not worry 11
Don’t know *
The United States economy is too dependent on oil
Worry a lot 47
Worry somewhat 36
Do not worry 15
Don’t know 1
Dependence on foreign oil will involve us in wars or conflicts in the Middle East
Worry a lot 43
Worry somewhat 37
Do not worry 18
Don’t know 1
Problems abroad may hurt our supply of oil and raise prices for American consumers
Worry a lot 41
Worry somewhat 43
Do not worry 15
Don’t know 1
Global warming
Worry a lot 32
Worry somewhat 39
Do not worry 27
Don’t know 1
07. We hear a lot in the news these days about using fossil fuels.
What energy sources do you think of when you think about fossil fuels?†
[Open-end]
Coal 37
Oil 36
Natural gas 19
Gasoline 18
Diesel 2
Ethanol 2
Wind power / Air 2
Wood 2
Nuclear power / Atomic power 1
Solar 1
Other 15
Don’t know 32
08. We hear a lot in the news these days about using renewable energy.
What energy sources do you think of when you think about renewable energy?†
[Open-end]
Wind power / Air 45
Solar 40
Hydro electric / Water 24
Nuclear power / Atomic power 8
Ethanol 6
Geothermal 4
Coal 3
Electric / Electricity 3
Natural gas 3
Biofuels 2
Gasoline 2
Oil 2
Wood/Trees 2
Biodiesel 1
Garbage 1
Other 15
Don’t know 30
09. In the past seven days, have you done any of the following?
Turned down the heat or air conditioning in your home to save energy
Yes 75
No 23
Doesn’t apply 2
Don’t know —
Bicycled or walked instead of driving
Yes 36
No 60
Doesn’t apply 4
Don’t know —
Carpooled
Yes 26
No 69
Doesn’t apply 4
Don’t know *
Taken public transit, such as a bus, train or subway
Yes 14
No 76
Doesn’t apply 9
Don’t know *
10. In the past six months, have you done any of the following?
Bought energy-efficient lightbulbs
Yes 76
No 24
Doesn’t apply *
Don’t know *
Bought a household appliance or electronics, such as a TV or stereo, based on its energy rating
Yes 74
No 26
Doesn’t apply 0
Don’t know *
Cut back significantly on how much you drive
Yes 66
No 28
Doesn’t apply 5
Don’t know *
Insulated your attic, basement or windows in your home in order to use less energy
Yes 37
No 59
Doesn’t apply 4
Don’t know —
Researched or looked into getting a more fuel-efficient or hybrid car
Yes 34
No 64
Doesn’t apply 2
Don’t know *
Installed a solar panel or used any other alternative energy source
Yes 8
No 91
Doesn’t apply 1
Don’t know *
Moved to a new home or apartment to decrease driving
Yes 7
No 92
Doesn’t apply 1
Don’t know *
11. People have different views about what they’re willing to do to improve the country’s energy situation.
What about you personally? How willing would you be to:
Cut back on leisure driving on weekends and vacations
Very willing 39
Somewhat willing 39
Not too willing 5
Not willing at all 8
Doesn’t apply 8
Don’t know *
Have a 55-miles-an-hour speed limit on highway driving
Very willing 37
Somewhat willing 27
Not too willing 10
Not willing at all 22
Doesn’t apply 2
Don’t know 1
Carpool to work or school more than half the time
Very willing 32
Somewhat willing 23
Not too willing 5
Not willing at all 12
Doesn’t apply 27
Don’t know *
Use public transit to work or school more than half the time
Very willing 25
Somewhat willing 19
Not too willing 5
Not willing at all 17
Doesn’t apply 33
Don’t know *
Accept construction of a nuclear power plant near your area
Very willing 22
Somewhat willing 25
Not too willing 16
Not willing at all 31
Doesn’t apply 2
Don’t know 4
Pay more for electricity generated by renewable sources, like solar or wind energy
Very willing 21
Somewhat willing 39
Not too willing 12
Not willing at all 24
Doesn’t apply *
Don’t know 2
Bike or walk to work or school more than half the time
Very willing 20
Somewhat willing 20
Not too willing 7
Not willing at all 22
Doesn’t apply 30
Don’t know 1
Pay higher taxes to fund the development of alternative energy sources
Very willing 14
Somewhat willing 36
Not too willing 15
Not willing at all 33
Doesn’t apply *
Don’t know 2
12. Please tell me if you think the following statements are true or false.
Over the long run, the price of oil will go up because supplies are diminishing and demand is increasing.
True 70
False 24
Don’t know 6
The main cause for increases in gas prices are speculators who drive up the price of oil.
True 68
False 19
Don’t know 12
Most of the oil that the United States imports comes from the Middle East.
True 65
False 24
Don’t know 10
Using crops like corn to produce ethanol increases food prices.
True 59
False 28
Don’t know 13
Cars in Europe and Japan are required to get more miles per gallon than cars in the United States.
True 56
False 18
Don’t know 26
By reducing the level of smog in the United States, we’ve gone a long way to reducing global warming.
True 52
False 36
Don’t know 12
If we would just drill offshore and in Alaska, we wouldn’t need to import foreign oil.
True 44
False 43
Don’t know 13
Americans use the same amount of energy per person as Europeans.
True 8
False 73
Don’t know 19
People in Japan and Europe pay about the same as we do for gasoline.
True 5
False 76
Don’t know 19
13. How much of the world’s oil do you think is located in the United States, either on land or offshore?
Less than 5% 5
5-10% 17
11-25% 33
26-50% 21
More than 50% 11
Don’t know 13
14. What percentage of the energy that the United States now uses comes from renewable sources?
Less than 10% 47
10-25% 31
26-50% 7
More than 50% 5
Don’t know 10
15. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of global warming?
Global warming is a proven fact and is mostly caused by emissions from cars
and industrial facilities such as power plants and factories.		 53
Global warming is a theory that has not yet been proven. 19
Global warming is a proven fact and is mostly caused by natural changes
that have nothing to do with emissions from cars and industrial facilities.		 18
Don’t know 8
16. Tell me how much you think each of the following contributes to global warming.
Driving cars or trucks that use gasoline
A lot 54
A little 33
Not at all 9
Don’t know 3
Using coal to generate electricity
A lot 39
A little 41
Not at all 12
Don’t know 6
Natural forces unrelated to human activity
A lot 27
A little 45
Not at all 19
Don’t know 8
Using nuclear energy to generate electricity
A lot 21
A little 35
Not at all 32
Don’t know 11
Driving cars or trucks that use ethanol
A lot 15
A little 50
Not at all 21
Don’t know 13
Using solar energy to generate electricity
A lot 9
A little 23
Not at all 64
Don’t know 4
17. Is the price of gasoline something the president can do a lot about, or is that beyond the president’s control?
Something that the president can do a lot about 47
Beyond the president’s control 47
Don’t know 5
18. Next, I’m going to read you a list of energy-related proposals. Please tell me if you favor or oppose each one.
Giving tax rebates to individuals who reduce their energy consumption
Strongly favor 44
Somewhat favor 37
Somewhat oppose 7
Strongly oppose 10
Don’t know 2
Giving tax benefits to businesses and industries that reduce their energy consumption
Strongly favor 41
Somewhat favor 38
Somewhat oppose 10
Strongly oppose 9
Don’t know 3
Setting up a government program to reward businesses that reduce carbon emissions and to penalize those that do not
Strongly favor 37
Somewhat favor 35
Somewhat oppose 13
Strongly oppose 11
Don’t know 3
Reducing environmental restrictions on drilling for oil and natural gas in coastal areas and Alaska
Strongly favor 30
Somewhat favor 35
Somewhat oppose 14
Strongly oppose 17
Don’t know 3
Increasing the production of ethanol to replace gasoline
Strongly favor 23
Somewhat favor 38
Somewhat oppose 13
Strongly oppose 17
Don’t know 7
Building more nuclear power plants in the United States
Strongly favor 21
Somewhat favor 34
Somewhat oppose 18
Strongly oppose 22
Don’t know 4
A gas tax of 40 cents a gallon to support development of clean, renewable energy sources
Strongly favor 17
Somewhat favor 28
Somewhat oppose 20
Strongly oppose 33
Don’t know 2
A gas tax of 40 cents a gallon to help achieve energy independence
Strongly favor 14
Somewhat favor 26
Somewhat oppose 20
Strongly oppose 37
Don’t know 3
A gas tax of 40 cents a gallon to improve roads, bridges, tunnels and other public works
Strongly favor 14
Somewhat favor 24
Somewhat oppose 22
Strongly oppose 38
Don’t know 1
Requiring a surcharge on the utility bills of homes and businesses that exceed monthly limits on energy usage
Strongly favor 12
Somewhat favor 29
Somewhat oppose 24
Strongly oppose 32
Don’t know 2
19. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each
of the following statements.
Investing in alternative energy will create many new jobs.
Strongly agree 45
Somewhat agree 41
Somewhat disagree 7
Strongly disagree 4
Don’t know 3
Electric companies should be required to generate more energy from renewable, non-polluting energy sources, like wind and solar, even if this increases the cost of energy in the short run.
Strongly agree 34
Somewhat agree 43
Somewhat disagree 11
Strongly disagree 9
Don’t know 3
Developers should be required to build more energy-efficient homes, even if it makes the homes more expensive.
Strongly agree 33
Somewhat agree 42
Somewhat disagree 11
Strongly disagree 12
Don’t know 2
Even though coal is a cheap and plentiful fuel, the government should ban the building of new coal-burning power plants because of the greenhouse gases they emit.
Strongly agree 26
Somewhat agree 27
Somewhat disagree 21
Strongly disagree 20
Don’t know 6
We should take whatever steps are necessary to gain energy independence even if it increases the cost of gas, electricity and heating fuel over the next few years.
Strongly agree 24
Somewhat agree 44
Somewhat disagree 17
Strongly disagree 13
Don’t know 3
If we get gas prices to drop and stay low, we don’t need to be as worried about finding alternative sources of energy.
Strongly agree 12
Somewhat agree 14
Somewhat disagree 20
Strongly disagree 53
Don’t know 1
20. Do you favor or oppose each of the following energy-related proposals?
Higher mileage standards for cars, trucks and SUVs
Strongly favor 50
Somewhat favor 28
Somewhat oppose 9
Strongly oppose 8
Don’t know 4
Investing in railways so that more shipping could be done by fuel-efficient trains rather than by gasoline powered trucks
Strongly favor 47
Somewhat favor 37
Somewhat oppose 7
Strongly oppose 6
Don’t know 3
Setting higher emissions and pollutions standards for business and industry
Strongly favor 41
Somewhat favor 37
Somewhat oppose 9
Strongly oppose 10
Don’t know 3
Giving a tax-credit to people who purchase hybrid or high gas mileage automobiles
Strongly favor 38
Somewhat favor 35
Somewhat oppose 9
Strongly oppose 14
Don’t know 3
Spending more tax money on public transportation, such as bus and rail systems
Strongly favor 33
Somewhat favor 38
Somewhat oppose 13
Strongly oppose 13
Don’t know 2
The U.S. government passing a law to ensure that gas is no cheaper than $4.00 a gallon to encourage the development of alternative fuels
Strongly favor 12
Somewhat favor 13
Somewhat oppose 14
Strongly oppose 58
Don’t know 3
Charging a fee to drive on certain roads or areas during the most congested times
Strongly favor 11
Somewhat favor 25
Somewhat oppose 20
Strongly oppose 41
Don’t know 3
21. Right now, which one of the following do you think should be the more important priority for U.S. energy policy?
More energy conservation and regulation on energy use and prices 56
Expanding exploration, mining and drilling, and the construction of new power plants 37
Don’t know 6
23. Which comes closer to your point of view?
To reduce the effects of global warming we will have to make major sacrifices 48
Technology can solve the problem without requiring major sacrifices 41
Don’t know 7
24. What do you think is the best way to move our economy forward?
Investing in creating ways to get energy from alternative sources, like solar and wind power 77
Investing in finding more sources of oil, coal and natural gas 16
Don’t know 5
27. With which one of these statements about the environment and the economy do you most agree?
Protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of curbing economic growth 56
Economic growth should be given priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent 35
Don’t know 7
28. How soon do you think alternative energies such as wind and solar power could become
a major part of our energy consumption if there were a heavy investment in developing these alternatives?
Less than 5 years 21
5-10 years 52
11-20 years 17
More than 20 years 7
Don’t know 3
Characteristics of the Sample
Total
Gender
Male 49
Female 51
Age
18-29 20
30-49 37
50-64 25
65 or older 16
Relationship Status
Married 55
Living as married 3
Divorced 10
Separated 3
Widowed 7
Never married/Single 21
Region
Northeast 19
Midwest 23
South 36
West 22
Party
Republican 27
Democrat 34
Independent 25
Something else 10
Political Ideology
Liberal 20
Moderate 32
Conservative 39
Race
White 69
Black/African-American 11
Hispanic 13
Other or mixed race 5
Total
Education
Less than high school 15
High school graduate [grade 12 or GED certificate] 30
Business, technical, or vocational school
AFTER high school		 5
Some college, no 4-year degree 23
College graduate [B.S., B.A., or other 4-year degree] 14
Post-graduate training or professional schooling after college [e.g., toward a master’s degree or Ph.D.; law or medical school] 13
Employment
Full-time 46
Part-time 11
Retired 21
Not employed 17
Homemaker 1
Student 1
Disabled 3
Commute [Based on those who are employed]
Alone in your car 70
In your car with other people 13
Take a train, subway or bus 5
Walk 3
Bike 2
Work from home/Don’t commute 7
Some other way 1
Income
Under $15,000 10
$15,000 to under $25,000 10
$25,000 to under $35,000 12
$35,000 to under $50,000 15
$50,000 to under $75,000 15
$75,000 or more 29