Patent ID: 8199145

Claim:
A method for conserving resources for a virtual universe, the method comprising the steps of: a computer determining that an avatar is accessing a natural resource conservation region in the virtual universe, wherein the natural resource conservation region is supported with one or more devices that adhere to restrictions on natural resource usage; the computer applying one or more virtual universe restrictions while the avatar is accessing the natural resource conservation region; and the computer providing one or more indicators to the avatar, within the virtual universe, indicating any one or more of a conservation status of the natural resource conservation region, a degree of resource conservation achieved by the one or more virtual universe restrictions, and a description of the virtual universe restrictions that are applied in the natural resource conservation region, wherein the indicators comprise any one or more of images within a virtual universe user interface, video images, sounds, text messages, visual indications on a map of the virtual universe, a degraded image quality for one or more objects in the natural resource conservation region, colors, backgrounds, textures, and sign posts.