British Columbians most likely to choose sustainable and green building
products; Albertans the least
MONTREAL, TORONTO, CALGARY, VANCOUVER, March 31 /CNW/ - The LePage
Report on Canadians' Attitudes to Sustainability, released today,
reveals that while an overwhelming majority of Canadian homeowners view
indoor air quality and using sustainable and green building products as
important, only half are aware of products to improve indoor air
quality and only one in five use green and sustainable building
products.
"It is clear that Canadians value sustainability and indoor air
quality," said Michael Terhardt, Marketing Director for LePage® brand
adhesives and sealants. "While the vast majority of Canadians are
turning to the Internet or home retailers for information on these
important subjects, it is clear more work is required to educate
homeowners and increase awareness of how to achieve these valued
outcomes."
The report showed that British Columbians lead Canada in adoption of
environmentally sustainable building products and in knowledge of
products that contribute to indoor air quality, followed by those in
Ontario and Quebec. Albertans lag behind in adoption of
environmentally sustainable products and overall in following
sustainable practices in the home.
The LePage Report also illustrated that Canadian women are more likely
to follow sustainable practices in the home than men. For instance,
women are more likely than men to recycle, compost, choose organic
household products and choose organic local food. However, Marcelo
Orchon, Sr. Brand Manager at LePage pointed out that, "Despite
significantly more women than men viewing the use of environmentally
sustainable building products as important, there is no difference in
their adoption."
In addition to gender playing a role in the level of importance, age is
also a key factor in selecting green and sustainable building products.
Orchon notes, "The survey revealed that Canadian homeowners aged 55+
are more likely to use these products than younger respondents."
Of those who were aware of products that contribute to indoor air
quality, Canadians pointed to heating and ventilation systems, low VOC
building construction materials, and bamboo and cork flooring as top
examples. For green and sustainable building products, Canadians listed
building construction materials, environmentally friendly non-toxic and
low emission materials, renewable resources, recyclable materials, and
energy efficient products, although those in Quebec were the least
likely to think of energy efficient products.
With half of Canadians planning minor repairs or painting in the next 6
months, nearly two-thirds using professional help don't plan to ask for
sustainable and green building products in home renovation projects.
Conducted by Vision Critical with over 1000 Canadian homeowners, The
LePage Report on Canadian's Attitudes to Sustainability coincides with
LePage Lends a Hand Month, in which LePage will donate green and
sustainable building products to Habitat for Humanity Canada. "We're
helping support their goal to have 90 per cent of their builds meet
third-party, best-in-class green building standards by 2012," said
Terhardt.
Other key findings from the report include:
-
An overwhelming majority of Canadian homeowners view home air quality
(98%) and using sustainable and green building products (75%) as
important. Women (76%) and those aged 55+ (82%) find home air quality
very important.
-
Regardless of importance, only half (49%) of Canadian homeowners are
aware of products to improve home air.
-
One in five Canadian homeowners use sustainable and green renovation /
building products. British Columbian homeowners (27%) are the most
likely to use sustainable and green renovation / building products and
those in Alberta (15%) the least likely.
-
Nearly all Canadian homeowners that look for sustainable / green
products view performance (99%), price (97%), and product (92%) as
important.
-
Despite the perceived importance of sustainable and green building
products, nearly two thirds (65%) of Canadian homeowners who have used
professional help have not asked them to use sustainable and green
building products in home renovation projects. One third (33%) have
never asked for professional help for their home - of which the
majority (54%) are not sure if they would ask a professional to use
these products.
-
Follow Sustainable Practices in Home:
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96% recycle (99% BC, 86% AB, 99% Ontario, 97% Quebec) Condo owners less
likely at 93%
-
46% composting (50% BC, 33% AB, 54% Ontario, 31% Quebec) Condo owners
less likely at 16%
-
69% energy efficient appliances (74% BC, 72% AB, 85% Ontario, 38%
Quebec)
-
36% organic, local food (48% BC, 28% AB, 37% Ontario, 31% Quebec)
-
20% using sustainable and green renovation, building products (27% BC,
15% AB, 20% Ontario, 19% Quebec)
Methodology:
From January 20 to January 24, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted
an online survey among a sample of 1,006 adult Canadian homeowners who
are Angus Reid Forum panel members. The margin of error—which measures
sampling variability—is +/- 3.0%. The results have been statistically
weighted to ensure a representative sample. Discrepancies in or between
totals are due to rounding.
