Most people associate conservation with curtailment activities that have to be quickly employed to reduce demand. This is an accurate but limited definition. The basic factors of energy demand are changing, and these changes all point to diminished growth in energy demand.
Economic growth is possible without growth in energy demand.
The price of energy can only go higher. United States oil consumption hampers Third World development and is a threat to world peace. Energy price controls harm mostly the poor, cause unnecessary environmental damage, forfeit national security and ultimately lead to higher energy costs. Environmental protection policies should not be relaxed to foster energy production. Industrial energy conservation requires institutional as well as technical innovation.