The ‘greenvolution’ is coming – 22 million Brits could ‘go green’ as fuel prices soar.

The rise in energy and fuel prices could push 22 million Brits to ‘go green’ sparking a nationwide ‘Greenvolution’, reveals new research from Tescocompare.com, the car and home insurance comparison site.

According to Tescocompare.com, the UK may see almost a 50% rise in environmental activity in response to sky-rocketing fuel and energy costs. And of the 15 million Brits who are home-owners, more than half (54%) admit that the soaring cost of energy bills will push them to ‘go green’ in an attempt to save money.

Four out of five Brits (80%) say they already pride themselves in being ‘above average’ when it comes to being environmentally friendly, by scoring themselves 5 or more out of ten when asked how green they are.

Green deeds
39 million planet-conscious Brits (83%) willingly recycle their household waste. Two thirds (66%) make sure they switch their appliances off at the mains rather than leave them on standby to save electricity and 76% have installed energy-saving light bulbs around the home, which help to cut down on energy bills.

But more than six out of ten (61%) of us admit we could still do more for the environment, whilst 800,000 Brits confess they have done nothing at all. And although one in five (20%) claim that doing more to be ‘green’ is simply too expensive, millions are missing out on being environmentally friendly for free.

Nearly half of all Brits (47%) are wasting the chance to save money and the environment by failing to wash their clothes at the lower temperature of 30 degrees. Other everyday opportunities to save on fuel which cost nothing to do are being missed by many Brits - nearly a third (32%) are still heating more water for a bath rather than taking a shower, and over a quarter (28%) still waste energy by overfilling the kettle.

Paul Baxter, at Tescocompare.com says, "Going green takes a little bit of effort but can reap huge rewards in the long and short-term. The cost of living and household bills are creeping up and up, but there are lots of things that cost next to nothing, which we can all do on a day-to-day basis to reduce our carbon footprint and energy bills. Simply turning gadgets off at the mains when you’re not using them is a sure-fire way to save the planet and the pound in your pocket."

Opinium Research LLP carried out an online poll of 2114 British adults between 25th and 28th February 2008. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.