Supplementary letter from Energywatch
In response to your letter of 7 May 2008, please
find enclosed a report of the results of an omnibus survey, which
is the opinion poll that I was referring to in my evidence to
the Committee on 28 April.
In September 2007, energywatch included four
questions on the Public Affairs Monitor, which is a face-to-face
omnibus survey undertaken by Ipsos MORI on a monthly basis. The
four questions were designed to capture respondents' awareness
of low carbon energy generation, and their support for low carbon
enerby produced from renewable and nuclear sources.
Ipsos MORI
"LOW CARBON"
AWARENESS AND
SUPPORT AMONG
UK RESIDENTS
AN OMNIBUS
SURVEY CONDUCTED
ON BEHALF
OF ENERGYWATCH
Method
Between 20 and 25 September, 2007, energywatch
included four questions on the Public Affairs Monitor, Ipsos MORI's
monthly face-to-face omnibus survey.
The four questions were designed to capture:
— awareness of low carbon energy generation;
— understanding of the generation methods
that are considered "low carbon";
— support for low carbon energy produced
from renewable sources; and
— support for low carbon energy produced
from nuclear power.
Sample
In total, 2,015 respondents participated in
the survey. This sample was designed and weighted to be representative
of the UK population in terms of gender, age, social class, working
status and region.
Awareness of low carbon energy generation
The majority of respondents (59%) thought, or
were sure, that they had heard of low carbon energy generation,
while one in four (41%) had not or did not know.
Keeping in mind that factors such as social
grade, newspaper readership, household income and home tenure
are strongly related, lack of awareness of low carbon energy generation
is significantly higher among:
— Women (42%) compared to men (33%).
— Those younger than 35 or older than
75 (42% and 47%, respectively).
— Lower social grades (36% of C1, 38%
of C2, 49% of DE) compared to AB's (28%).
— Those not working (43%) compared
to those working full time (33%).
— Those who are renting their home
(50%) compared to owners (33%).
— Those with a household income of
less than £30,000 per year (43%) compared to those with a
higher income (23%).
— Readers of popular newspapers (42%)
rather than quality newspapers (26%).
— Those with no car in the household
(49%) compared to those with a car (35%).
— Those with no formal qualifications
(52%) compared to those with GCSE or equivalent (40%), those with
A-level or equivalent (35%) or with a Degree or higher (22%).
Perceptions of low carbon methods
The findings show that the public are confused
about which methods of generating energy are low carbon. While
the vast majority correctly identify renewables as a low carbon
method, only one third of respondents correctly identify nuclear
power. Similarly, one in five respondents incorrectly believe
biomass to be low carbon generation.
As with awareness, understanding that
renewables and nuclear power are both low carbon is higher among
men, and among those of higher education, social grade and household
income. Respondents under the age of 25 are least informed about
low carbon methods and are significantly less likely than almost
all of the other age groups to indicate a correct response.
Support for low carbon methods
As prelude to the next question, respondents
were informed that the two main methods for low carbon energy
generation are from renewables and from nuclear power. They were
then asked how much they agreed or disagreed with two statements
regarding the production of energy through each of these methods.
While the vast majority (85%) of respondents
support production through renewables, with a slim majority (51%)
strongly agreeing, only 44% of respondents agree that they like
the idea of low carbon energy produced from nuclear power. In
line with this, disagreement is almost non-existent (1%) regarding
energy from renewable sources, while a quarter of respondents
(25%) disagree that they like the idea of low carbon energy from
nuclear power.
Support for renewables is higher among AB's,
homeowners, married or co-habiting respondents, and those with
higher household incomes.
Meanwhile, men are more supportive of energy
from nuclear power, as are AB respondents, and homeowners.
14 May 2008
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