11 Ways Americans Feel Guilty for Not Going Green

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As a famous frog used to say, it’s not that easy being green.

A new survey by Shelton Group, a marketing firm focused on energy efficiency, reveals what aspect of “going green” American consumers feel most guilty about avoiding. More than 1,000 people were asked, “Which (if any) of these things do you feel guilty about?” Some of the responses…

  1. Wasting food (39 percent)
  2. Leaving the lights on when I leave a room (27 percent)
  3. Wasting water (27 percent)
  4. Not unplugging chargers/electronics when not in use (22 percent)
  5. Not recycling things (21 percent)
  6. Forgetting to bring reusable bags to the store (20 percent)
  7. Letting the water run while brushing teeth, washing dishes, etc. (20 percent)
  8. Not buying CFLs or LEDs (9 percent)
  9. Not sticking to an energy-efficient thermostat setting (7 percent)
  10. Using chemical lawn or plant fertilizers (6 percent)
  11. Not being careful about how long/when I water the grass (6 percent)

But if environmentalism doesn’t motivate you, maybe the other kind of green will: money. Check out 15 Easy Ways to Go Green and Save Green to find out just how much you’re throwing away.

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