Energy can be conserved by more efficient use, eliminating wasteful use, or, simply by reducing consumption.  The increasing demand for energy from a rising world population, the explosive growth of industries, and the universal need for goods and services have made energy conservation rather urgent.

The supply of the non-renewable sources of energy such as fossil fuels including oil and coal cannot keep up with the rising demand for energy.  How much fossil fuel is buried under the earth and how long it will last are open questions.  Given these facts, it behooves us to be prudent in the use of energy, find ways of using what we have efficiently and eliminate wasteful use as much as possible.  On the other hand, it is also important to find ways of utilizing the renewable sources of energy to, at the very least, complement the fossil fuels if not altogether replace them.  The renewable sources of energy are Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Hydropower, Hydrogen, Ocean, and Biomass, and perhaps a few other less well-known sources.  Research and development on energy from these renewable sources continue and commercial application progresses at varying levels.  Some are more promising than others, but the pace is picking up.  The other aspect of conservation is in the development and application of more efficient plant and machinery to provide us with out daily living, transportation and communication needs.  Some examples of this are the Hybrid Automobiles, Solar Panels to heat and cool our homes, and solar cell technology used in various communication devices.  

The bad news is that the world continues to demand and use more and more energy; the good news is that we are getting more educated and more aware of the need for conservation.