(i) Conserving
money and minimising the waste of resources
Environmentally friendly
behaviour for many was also driven by engrained
beliefs/ethics about avoiding waste and conserving resources, especially money. While
this was often irrespective of environmental considerations, a recognition of associated
green benefits helped confirm this attitude as ‘right thinking’.
Saving money was found
to be a key driver in Wales and evidence of a strong culture of
frugality and /or non- wastage of money. Whilst this was sometimes circumstances-
driven, it was also found to be embedded in the value system for others. Whilst some
saw it as wrong to be excessive for the sake of it, others felt it was wrong to ‘use up’
what might be finite and about a sense of good management, thriftiness or efficiency.
As one would expect, the
less well off were more likely to proactively seek financial
savings, whilst others were more reactive and their interest varied according to the
actual or perceived level of saving so, on an on going basis, judgments would be made
as to what was worth their while. Energy saving/conservation is a good example of a
primarily financially motivated behaviour, whilst some do link this to environmental
soundness, others do not make the link.
It should be noted that
the less well off were also more likely to be ‘green’ by default as
their finances limited what was affordable, such as the number/types of cars they
owned, the amount of air travel and the need to limit or manage large bills. Lack of
money for some would mean that a car with a small engine was chosen over a larger
one, whilst for others this could result in them relying solely on public transport.
