First of all, the automobiles are a lot smaller. Secondly, a lot of people walk to work, many more than here. Thirdly, many more people take public transportation. Push it, and the stairs are illuminated for a couple of minutes until a timer shuts the lights off again. European radiators often are controlled individually, so homeowners are able to heat only the rooms in use.
Bicycles are a major form of transportation.
They have their own lanes and parking areas, especially in cities. Groceries and other services are widely available in residential neighborhoods, where they are available to people who don't drive. Nivola and other experts say any direct comparison between the USA and Europe, especially on auto use, must be taken in context. After all, the 15-member European Union's population of 376.5 million is more tightly packed into its cities. The U.S. population is 281.4 million.