30 October 2006
New research from npower has revealed that a person's Green Net Aptitude (GNA), a calculation derived from a person's surroundings, education and personality, can determine how energy efficient someone is.
npower worked in conjunction with Adrian White, an analytic social psychologist from the University of Leicester, in order to work out what affects the public's attitude to protecting the environment.
The study revealed that women are more inclined to reuse carrier bags, turn appliances off fully and buy environmentally-friendly products, but men are more likely to change their car for a more environmentally-friendly model or install a wind turbine or solar panel at home.
Strangely, it's the SUV drivers who are more likely to recycle or use energy efficient light bulbs than drivers of more environmentally friendly cars.
Scottish people are the most likely to install a wind turbine at home and to car share, whereas those who live in the east of England are the most likely to install solar panels at home, and are also the most likely to use a push bike instead of a car.
Mr White said the careers people chose also had an effect on how green someone was: "For example teachers, with higher levels of education and a career focussed on investing in the future of children, have a high GNA score and are more likely to be able to delay gratification, compared to estate agents who may be working in a culture of quick sales and short-term commission."
Ruth Billington from npower commented: "The research shows that we all need to think about how we could take small steps to combat our inherent GNA scores – whether that's choosing to walk rather than take the car or switch to a renewable source of energy in our homes."
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