WASHINGTON — Sometimes it’s easier to think green than be green.
A survey released Tuesday suggests people have largely embraced recycling bottles and cans and are inclined to turn down thermostats to save energy. But it also indicated that some paths toward a greener Earth aren’t as easily taken — or turned into action.
The telephone poll, conducted for The Associated Press and NBC Universal, tries to gauge attitudes about the environment. It found that 60 percent of those surveyed felt either a “great deal” or “a lot” of personal responsibility to protect the environment, while 37 percent rarely, if ever, even thought about the impact of their actions on the Earth’s health.
Nearly eight of 10 people who were concerned about environmental protection said they believe their actions are helping to protect the environment.
The survey found that nearly seven in 10 people believe recycling bottles and cans would help the environment a lot.
The Nov. 5-9 poll of 1,006 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
