Joe Romm’s highly partisan and George Soros funded Think Progress links to a study cited at The Atlantic
How Do You Get Conservatives to Buy Energy Efficient Products?
Why do conservatives, who should have a natural inclination toward conservation, have a beef with energy efficiency? It could be tied to the political polarization of the climate change debate.
A study out in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examined attitudes about energy efficiency in liberals and conservatives, and found that promoting energy-efficient products and services on the basis of their environmental benefits actually turned conservatives off from picking them. The researchers first quizzed participants on how much they value various benefits of energy efficiency, including reducing carbon emissions, reducing foreign oil dependence, and reducing how much consumers pay for energy; cutting emissions appealed to conservatives the least.
The study then presented participants with a real-world choice: With a fixed amount of money in their wallet, respondents had to “buy” either an old-school light bulb or an efficient compact florescent bulb, the same kind Bachmann railed against. Both bulbs were labeled with basic hard data on their energy use, but without a translation of that into climate pros and cons. When the bulbs cost the same, and even when the CFL cost more, conservatives and liberals were equally likely to buy the efficient bulb. But slap a message on the CFL’s packaging that says “Protect the Environment,” and “we saw a significant drop-off in more politically moderates and conservatives choosing that option,” said study author Dena Gromet, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
First, when do they cost the same? CFLs are typically more expensive, and those that aren’t are complete pieces of garbage.
Second, the study, as well as The Atlantic and Think Progress articles, position this as hating on the environment. What they miss is that it’s not the environment that we have a problem with. It’s not saving energy. We are (for the most part) all for that. We like to save money. We like to protect the environment. I typically choose appliances that are energy and environmentally friendly. I just spent almost $4000 on a new A/C unit that will cut my power by third to a half in the warm months. I bought an energy efficient fridge a few years ago. I typically buy environmentally friendly products like car wash liquid. I don’t litter (can liberals say the same? Every liberal event seems to generate tons of litter). I don’t always recycle, I’m not perfect, but I try.
The problem is that many tune the message of “green” out and purchase non-green because it has become synonymous with ‘climate change’, a made up issue. The Warmists have managed to take real environmental issues and put them under the banner of “climate change”.
Oh, and really, most CFLs stink. I used to like them, but they are a pain, giving out different light by brand. They have mercury. And they suck. I do use them in a few places, but not for my main reading lights.
Double oh, the study shows that Liberals are brain dead sheep who will buy anything their cult leaders tell them to.
Read: So, How Do You Get Conservatives To Buy “Green”? »
