A market and social research group found a significant number of Australians becoming more carbon-efficient.

The Newspoll survey shows the responses 676 home-owners on items that carried energy issues. Eighty eight of the respondents expressed their desire to reduce their household energy use, while 79 percent said they prefer to rely on renewable energy sources.

Eighty nine percent of the sample said they had installed energy-saving lighting devices such as flourescent lamps in order to reduce electricity consumption. Likewise, 72 percent said they had purchased energy efficient appliances.

The survey showed about 64 percent of respondents turned off electrical devices when these were not in use.

Surprisingly, 77 percent of the sample considered a switch to alternative energy sources to be too costly. Only 19 percent said they do not want to switch to sustainable energy since they believe it would “make very little difference anyway.”

Australians have been dealing with a continuing rise in electricity and gas prices. Over the past three years, energy prices have increased by an estimated average of 35 percent across the country.

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The survey was commissioned by the water heater manufacturer and distributor Solahart International. The water heater company has been part of the Paloma Company Limited since 2001.

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