Poll: Americans support conservation

PALO , Calif., Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Americans are using higher fuel costs as a reason to boost conservation efforts even as they support increased oil drilling, a poll indicates.

An ABC News/Planet Green/Stanford University poll reported mixed responses. But 71 percent of those surveyed said they were trying to reduce their "carbon footprint" by driving less, using less electricity and recycling, ABC News reported Saturday.

However, 64 percent of the respondents cited "finding new energy sources" as more important than improving conservation efforts -- with 44 percent favoring the building of nuclear plants, the most in 28 years, ABC reported. Other majorities indicated higher taxes on oil company profits, stricter fuel efficiency rules for cars and oversight on investor trading that might affect fuel prices.

Nearly 80 percent of those polled said global warming is real and poses a threat to future generations. But only 44 percent indicated addressing global warming should necessarily cause them personal financial hardship.

The poll was based on random telephone interviews of 1,000 U.S. residents between July 23 and July 28 and has a 3 percent margin of error.