**5.1 North america**

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 energy consumption.
