Saving money vs. helping the environment: It’s about the money

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Americans are more inclined to make energy-efficient improvements when their actions help save money. They are less motivated by environmental concerns, according to a national poll released Monday by the Tennessee-based research firm Shelton Group.

About a quarter of Americans polled said that they received a rebate or other financial incentive for making an energy-efficient improvement. Most rebates came from a utility or federal tax incentive. Of those who made improvements, 25% said they would not have acted without the incentive.

Changing incandescent lightbulbs to compact fluorescents was the most common change made to save energy (63% of homeowners), followed by weather stripping (55%) and purchasing EnergyStar appliances (49%).

-- Susan Carpenter