**1. Introduction**

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Although there have been numerous programs to reduce fossil fuel consumption, there is still tremendous potential for further reduction of energy consumption. Reduced consumption today will both lower prices in future, and increase availability for future generations. Renewable energies can hardly compare to fossil fuel in convenience and energy intensity. The developed world has moved only slightly from incandescent to fluorescent and LED lamps. Larger automobiles, owing to their greater safety in collisions, and the status they convey, have contributed to a "size race" among consumers for larger automobiles. Urban sprawl, as practiced in much of the world, has contributed to spreadout cities, and a car-dependent culture. Owing to rising fuel prices, urban sprawl is largely unsustainable, as could be evidenced by the recent crash in the suburban housing market in the developed world. Back-up generators and UPS by individual households and consumers may worsen problems, and even cause a vicious cycle of power shortages. Over the last few decades, forest and vegetation densities have increased, but marine life has decreased, for reasons which are unclear at this time.
