Energy and environmental concepts: the results of Pike Research

Pike Research, Cleantech Market Intelligence conducted a web-based consumer survey of more than 1000 U.S. adults during the fourth quarter of 2011 to better understand consumer attitudes about energy and environmental concepts. Pike Research asked respondents to rate their impressions of 13 specific topics divided into 5 areas.

 

Clean Energy – Consumer opinions of the clean energy concepts were generally positive. All four concepts (solar, wind, clean coal and nuclear) received favourable responses. Wind and solar continued to garner favourable opinions by more consumers than any other topic included in the survey while clean coal and nuclear power didn’t enjoy the same level.

Clean Transportation – More than half of all respondents reported favourable impressions of hybrid vehicles, electrical cars and natural gas vehicles while biofuels received the highest incidence of unfamiliar responses (15%).

Smart Grid – These technologies garnered smaller percentages of favourable responses than the clean energy and transportation topics. Few person hold an unfavourable view of the smart grid or smart meters (less than 10%).

Carbon Management – This technology didn’t garner a high level of favourable responses by survey respondents but received an high percentages of unfavourable and unfamiliar responses.
These technologies were better received by younger consumers and by consumers in the higher income level.

Building Efficiency – Consumers continue to state that they are not acquainted with the concept and Pike Research believes this is because green building certification programs have yet to draw significant attention to these topics.