Thursday, April 08, 2010

As the old song goes, let the sunshine in.

Forty-four percent (44%) of Americans believe solar energy should become a standard method of heating homes in the United States, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Twenty-three percent (23%) disagree and don’t see a standard heating role for solar energy in the nation’s housing. Another 33% aren’t sure.

Nearly one-out-of-three adults (31%) say they are at least somewhat likely to use solar power in their homes in the next five years, including 13% who say they are very likely to do so.

Sixty-two percent (62%) are unlikely to use solar power this way, with 40% who are not very likely to use it in their homes in the next five years and 22% who are not at all likely to.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

Most Americans see a need for major lifestyle cutbacks to help the environment, but even more don’t think that's likely to happen.

Those ages 18 to 40 feel more strongly than their elders that solar energy will become a regular heating source for homes in this country. Those in this age group are also roughly twice as likely as older Americans to say they are very likely to use solar power in their homes in the next five years.

Over half of adults who earn $75,000 or more per year believe solar energy will become a standard method of heating homes in the United States.

Twenty-five percent (25%) of Americans who earn more than $100,000 per year say they are very likely to use solar power in their homes in the next five years, compared to just six percent (6%) of those who make between $20,000 and $40,000 annually.

Fifty-five percent (55%) of voters believe finding new sources of energy is more important than reducing the amount of energy Americans now consume. Support for finding new sources of energy has been this high or higher for months.

In a September 2008 survey, 77% of voters favored tax incentives for the development of alternative energy sources, including solar and wind programs.

Despite major announcements in recent days from both Ford and Nissan about stepped-up development of electric cars, just 17% of Americans say it is at least somewhat likely that the next car they buy will be all-electric.

Voters support offshore oil drilling more than ever, and most don’t agree with President Obama’s decision to limit where that drilling can be done.

In February, Obama announced an $8.3-billion government loan guarantee to build the first new nuclear plant in this country in over a quarter of a century. Nearly half of Americans (49%) favor the building of new nuclear power plants. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are opposed to the idea, and 24% are not sure.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

©2010 Rasmussen Reports, LLC   To subscribe or visit go to:  http://www.rasmussenreports.com