Almost two in three rate Eco Points scheme as effective
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Although there is still some time for the Eco Point award system for digital televisions, air conditioners and refrigerators to run, from the start of this month the points have been halved, so now seemed a good time for goo Research to take a look at what people thought of the scheme, in a survey reported on by japan.internet.com.
Demographics
From the 3rd to 6th of December 2010 1,089 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 53.0% of the sample were male, 16.4% in their teens, 18.4% in their twenties, 21.7% in their thirties, 16.0% in their forties, 15.7% in their fifties, and 11.8% aged sixty or older.
I think the scheme has been effective from a financial point of view, prising open Japanese wallets to get some money circulating. From an environmental point of view, it will help reduce household electricity consumption by replacing old inefficient equipment, but looking at the overall carbon cycle there’s less of a clear benefit. For my part, we upgraded our 28 inch CRT television to a 42 inch plasma, but looking at the power consumption the old one was rated at around 200 watts but the new one is 330 watts. Oops.
If they want new products to promote, I’d like to see fluorescent and LED light bulbs being chosen, as lighting uses more that televisions or fridges, and none of the current Eco Point products can compare to the savings from LED.
Research results
Q1: Do you know about the Eco Point scheme? (Sample size=1,089)
Yes (to SQs) 89.7% Just heard of it 9.6% No 0.7% Q1SQ1: Have you bought any Eco Point products? (Sample size=977)
Bought something, and looking at buying more 14.0% Not bought anything, but looking at buying 13.3% Bought something, but not looking at buying more 44.5% Not bought or looked at buying 23.6% None of the above 4.5% Q1SQ2: Do you think the Eco Point system has been effective as a means to boost the economy, to fight global warming, etc? (Sample size=977)
Very much so 14.5% To some degree so 50.2% Not really so 25.1% Not at all so 6.7% Can’t say either way 3.6%
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