Conclusions that the world is heading towards an unprecedented large and potentially devastating global energy crisis due to a decline in the availability of cheap oil have led to calls for a decreasing dependency on fossil fuel. Other ideas have been proposed which concentrate on improved, energy-efficient design and development of urban infrastructure in developing nations.
In response to the petroleum crisis, the principles of green energy and sustainable living movements gain popularity.
Efficiency mechanisms such as ‘megawatt power’ can encourage significantly more effective use of current generating capacity. “Negawatt power’ is a term used to describe the trading of increased efficiency, using consumption efficiency to increase available market supply rather than by increasing plant generation capacity. As such, it is a demand- side as opposed to a supply-side measure.