I returned from a 2-week business trip to India a few years ago, where I spent time in Chennai (formerly known as Madras) and Noida, New Delhi. While there, it was evident from advertising and company signs claiming "green-ness", that the "green" movement was in full swing.
Or is it?
What I really noticed, is that life continues on as it has for hundreds of years. Perhaps there are buses run by compressed natural gas, CNG, 3-wheel taxis powered by liquid propane gas, LPG, and bicycles driven by human power, but there are plenty of other means of transportation where gasoline is used, such as in cars and motorcycles. And yes, there are many, many motorcycles on the roads, all jostling for space in order to get to where they are going.
Then there are the roaming cows and people on foot meandering among the seeming chaos.
What does this have to do with responsible use of energy? Everything...
In reflecting on my visit to India, I realize this parallels how life continues on in America, and probably most other countries. It is really the responsibility of each individual to determine how energy is consumed, utilized, or even "wasted". We have our various traditions, our preferred way of managing daily life, and no advertising or company sign is going to change it.
