**4.2 Locomotives and trains**

Trains mostly run on diesel, with the exception of electric trains in city areas for mass transit. As oil and gas continue to be depleted, electric trains will become better options. However, the capital investment is prohibitive for copper and aluminum conductors over long distances, or cross country. Under these circumstances, the economical option may be a return to coal-powered trains, built much like coal-powered power stations.

Modern Transitions in Saving Energy and the Environment 199

The awareness for energy conservation has driven various programs and initiatives for long.A primary focus of this chapter is to increase fossil fuel conservation. Saving energy

would tend to suppress the rise in prices, and cause the fuel to last longer (Figure 4).

**5. Saving energy programs** 

2000

Oil + Gas Production

**5.1 North america** 

energy consumption.

reducing energy conservation.

**5.2 Europe** 

2010 2020 2030

North America, besides being the driving force of the world economy, is also a proportionately large consumer of fossil fuel. A number of initiatives have been taken in North America for energy conservation (aceee.org). The Department of Energy has an official website on saving energy, energysavers.gov, which speaks of saving energy at home, at the office, in the vehicle, workplace, etc. It ranges from simple issues such as the advantages of CFL (compact fluorescent lamps), and LEDs to details such as how one would establish a hydroelectric plant in one's own property. The Environmental Protection Agency has sponsored at least two programs that promote the adoption of energy-efficient technologies through voluntary agreements with private sector firms (Howartha, 2000). Companies which advocate the saving of energy through their websites include Tampa Electric (tampaelectric.com) and Sempra Energy Utility (sdge.com/homerebates). In Canada, companies have similar partnerships with the government for reducing energy consumption. In spite of all these attempts, there is plenty of scope for further reducing

Saving energy is pursued at the government level in Europe and Asia. Outside of the USA, the government is more likely to be involved in saving energy programs (Martinot, 1998). Numerous energy conservation programs and studies have been conducted in Europe (Kaygusuz, 1999), of which the attempts in Hungary are among those well documented (Aunan, 1998, 2009). As in North America, there is still plenty of scope for

Fig. 4. Oil and Gas production at current trends, and after saving energy programs

2040 2050

At current trends

After saving energy

Fig. 3. A speculation into the number of automobiles powered by (a) oil (b) hybrid electric (c) gas (d) fully electric.
