MOSCOW, January 11, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how much Russians are concerned about the problem of energy efficiency and whether they support the idea to switch to energy saving lamps.
The majority of Russians recognize the importance of the problem of energy efficiency in economy (80%): for 38% this is a high priority task that needs immediate consideration; 42% think there are more pressing issues to be tackled in terms of crisis though energy saving problem should be taken into account as well. Those who put attention to energy efficiency problem are generally Russians with high level of income (86%). Only every tenth (11%) think this problem has nothing in common with current policy issues - basically respondents with low level of income think so (14%).
Residents of North Western Federal District and Siberians report that energy saving problem should be solved immediately (43 and 45% respectively). The inhabitants of the Urals tend to think that there are other problems that are not less important in terms of crisis (52%). The highest number of those who do not consider energy saving to be the problem is observed in Central District of Russia (18%).
Eighty-five percent of Russians are aware of the upcoming switch to energy saving bulbs: 38% are well informed, 47% heard something about that. Most of them are Russians aged 35-59 (88-89%) and those with high level of education (92%). Only 14% heard for the first time about it from the interviewer. Those who are not aware of that are generally 18-24-year-old respondents (23%) and Russians with low level of education (29%).
The initiative of Dmitry Medvedev to switch to energy saving lamps is supported by more than half of Russians (55%). The idea is approved basically by residents of the Urals (69%), residents of middle-sized cities (59%) and Russians with high level of education (64%). A quarter of respondents negatively assess this initiative (25%): mostly Far-Eastern residents (38%), Muscovites and Saint-Petersburgians (37%). It should be noted that replacement of incandescent light bulbs is supported by 72% of Russians with high financial income and 47% of those with low income.
Thos who assess the initiative introduced by the President positively appreciate the efficiency of using energy saving lamps (46%). The second important reason is money-saving (28%). Respondents also mentioned obsolescence of traditional incandescent light bulbs, long-lasting performance of energy saving lamps (6% for each), luminosity (3%) and ecological advantages (2%).
Those who oppose the initiative report high price of energy-saving lamps (35%). Most of respondents sharing this stance think energy saving lamps are harmful to health (20%). Other arguments were as follows: poor quality, glimmer (14% for each), deprivation of right to choice (10%), lack of any considerable difference between traditional light bulbs and energy saving lamps (9%), and disposal problem (5%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on December 26-27, 2009. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin oferror does not exceed 3.4 %.
Do you think the problem of energy efficiency in Russian economy is important for Russia today or not? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Federal Districts* | ||||||
CFD | NWFD | SFD | PFD | UFD | SFD | DFD | ||
This is a top priority issue that should be tackled immediately | 38 | 36 | 43 | 39 | 37 | 27 | 45 | 52 |
The problem is important but there are problems not less important that need to be solved in terms of crisis | 42 | 38 | 44 | 46 | 44 | 52 | 41 | 25 |
The problem have nothing in common with real problems of Russian economy | 11 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 12 |
Hard to tell | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 |
*Abbreviations
CFD - Central Federal District
NWFD - North-Western Federal District
SFD - Southern Federal District
PFD - Volga Federal District
UFD - Urals Federal District
SFD - Siberian Federal District
DFD - Far-Eastern Federal District
Do you know that Russia will completely abandon traditional incandescent light bulbs and switch to energy saving lamps in four years? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Age, years | ||||
18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and above | ||
Yes, I am well aware | 38 | 32 | 38 | 43 | 42 | 32 |
I heard something about that | 47 | 44 | 47 | 45 | 47 | 49 |
I hear for the first time | 14 | 23 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 16 |
Hard to tell | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Many developed countries abandoned incandescent bulbs and completely switched to energy saving lamps. Dmitry Medvedev has recently introduced to do so in Russia. Do you personally approve of this initiative? | ||||
| Total respondents | Financial self-assessment | ||
Very good, good | Average | Very bad, bad | ||
Completely approve | 20 | 28 | 20 | 18 |
Rather approve | 35 | 44 | 36 | 29 |
Rather disapprove | 18 | 11 | 18 | 21 |
Completely disapprove | 7 | 3 | 7 | 11 |
Hard to tell | 19 | 14 | 20 | 21 |
If you approve of the initiative to switch to energy saving lamps, could you tell why? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who approve of the initiative) | |
Energy saving | 46 |
Money-saving | 28 |
Obsolescence of traditional light bulbs | 6 |
Long-lasting performance | 6 |
Luminosity, eye friendly lighting | 3 |
Environmentally friendly lighting, good for health | 2 |
Other | 1 |
Hard to tell | 14 |
If you disapprove of the idea to use energy saving lamps, could you tell why? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who disapprove of the initiative) | |
High price | 35 |
Harmful to health, contain mercury | 20 |
Poor quality, burn out quickly | 14 |
I do not like them; glimmer etc. | 14 |
Deprivation of the right to choice | 10 |
No differences between traditional lamps and energy saving | 9 |
Disposal problems | 5 |
Other | 2 |
Hard to tell | 8 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!