Over half of people in Britain have taken steps to reduce the amount of energy they use at home in the last year, a poll for the Methodist Church has revealed.
As governments prepare to meet in Copenhagen to discuss climate change, the new YouGov survey on behalf of the Methodist Church, found that 55 per cent of people have cut their home energy use through such practices as switching to low energy bulbs or switching appliances off rather than using standby.
But the survey showed that older people are more likely to have cut their energy consumption than younger people, with 64 per cent of over 55s taking steps to reduce energy consumption against 33 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds.
Londoners are also lagging behind the rest of the country, with only 45 per cent of people in the capital cutting their energy use in the past 12 months.
The survey also found that 22 per cent have bought more locally produced goods or food, both helping their local economies and cutting the greenhouse emissions caused by transporting items over long distances.
Nineteen per cent have driven less, switching instead to public transport, cycling or walking.
The Rev David Gamble, President of the Methodist Conference, said: “These results show that people are already doing things that cut their carbon footprint, whether they know it or not. Helping to save the planet can often also be a way to save money. People might feel powerless in the face of climate change, but there are things we can all do.”
2005 adults were surveyed online. Fieldwork was undertaken between 27th - 30th November 2009. The figures were weighted and representative of all GB adults.