Still a gas guzzler? That’s SO not cool.

Canadians who waste energy will soon be regarded with the same disdain as those who continue to smoke in the face of evidence of the damage it does to the individual and those around them, according to a new poll conducted by Leger Marketing. The survey, sponsored by appliance manufacturer Bosch, indicates that seven out of ten Canadians say it’s socially unacceptable to be environmentally irresponsible.

“We’re seeing changing sensibilities around the environment and sustainability,” says Dr. David Bell, former Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University and a spokesperson for Bosch, which is pushing its own green credentials. “Today, it’s simply unacceptable to smoke in someone’s house. Our ecoculture is growing leaps and bounds in the same way today, and soon people who blatantly disregard the environment will be treated as outcasts.”

According to the survey, 85 per cent of Canadians are committed to greener living, while 29 per cent self-identify as “green crusaders” or “green ambassadors”. But almost all Canadians report having take some steps to be greener, whether it be using re-usable shopping bags (78 per cent), switching to energy-efficient light bulbs ones (68 per cent), choosing earth-friendly household products (53 per cent) or purchasing energy-efficient kitchen or laundry appliances (50 per cent).

Bell predicts that companies will only succeed if they have a strong commitment to green production.  “In the very near future," he says, "the assumption will be: if you want to have a successful business, you must operate it a sustainable basis.”