**6.1 Telecommunication**

While the land phone has had almost complete penetration in North America for the last few decades, there has been a dramatic rise in cell phones in more recent times. The rise in telecommunication has been particularly dramatic in developing countries, where

Modern Transitions in Saving Energy and the Environment 203

While proponents of such a lifestyle argue that such consumption is a choice made by consumers, it is clear that such practices are unsustainable beyond the next few decades. In the past, increases in fossil fuel prices have contributed to price increases in consumer goods. Depletion of fossil fuel will tend to continue the upward trend in prices of consumer goods, forcing consumers to ultimately move away from such a lifestyle. A program to save energy should attempt to discourage unsustainable lifestyles promoting consumerism.

One of the greatest barriers to energy conservation today is that it energy consumption generates revenue, wealth, and taxes. While individuals have an inherent and inbuilt concern for their own future, and the future of their children, companies are generally driven by the bottom line and have little inherent concern for the welfare of humanity. Even though the top management may have concern for the future, when these same officers think collectively as a company, the concern for the future takes second priority over maximizing the bottom line, or profits. Commercial organizations are not very well-built to

Growth in fossil fuel consumption may be viewed positively by the oil-related industry. When oil and gas shortages cause prices to rise, the higher prices contribute further to the revenue. This may again be viewed positively by commercial forces, which generally direct

Companies related to fossil fuel production and distribution benefit from increased extraction and consumption through increased revenue, and consequently increased profits. Increased fossil fuel production generates greater wealth, and benefits the large numbers of

It should be noted that much data on remaining reserves and future expected consumption is provided by oil companies. Their data should be considered as optimistic keeping in mind

The revenue from increased fossil fuel production in turn generates more taxes for the government. The government, which are entrusted by the people, to protect the assets of the country, may not be inherently sufficiently far-sighted to prioritze fossil fuel conservation. Governments have mandates for only a few years, leading them to be more concerned about what happens during their tenure, rather than what is good in the long term. To governments, increased oil revenue may be a quick solution for improving the economy and

Individuals generally have the greatest concern for saving fossil fuel, as they may be concerned about what happens in their own lifetime, the lifetime of their children, or their children's children. There is general consensus, that consumers of today should have reduced consumption so that there is more fossil fuel left in the coming decades, and for future generations. The interest of individuals to conserve energy cannot be left entirely to companies or even governments for implementation. Efforts to save energy must include

increasing employment, consequently improving popularity among voters.

recognize the potential fuel shortages and depletion many decades down the line.

**7. Barriers to energy conservation** 

themselves to maximizing immediate profits.

the financial forces which drive their growth.

participation by conscious citizens, and academia.

companies related to the fuel industry.

**7.1 Individuals** 

penetration has increased from a small minority of the population a decade ago, to most of the population today.

Personal and business communication over the phone and internet have gained popularity over the last few years, allowing people to be in touch across cities or continents. Better phone communication and video-conferencing (Skype.com etc.) reduce fossil-fuel required for personal travel. In this sense, telecommunication has greatly helped fossil-fuel conservation.

The improvements in telecommunication and the internet are a mixed blessing to energy conservation. The ease of internet communication induces personal and casual communication over the internet for prolonged periods. This induces consumers to keep their computers when not needed otherwise. The widespread popularity of websites like facebook.com induce people to keep their computers on for long periods. While laptops and mobile devices consume less power, desktops and their CRT monitors may consume several hundred watts of power. This energy has become a little-recognized cause for increases in power consumption today. The increasing popularity of energy-efficient hand held devices may favorably improve energy conservation over the next few years.
