Conservation: market research reports

Conservation in the developed world has been a major public and industry issue and item of investment since the 1970s when the consumption of fossil fuels and raw materials and associated emissions were identified as unsustainable practices for long-term economies and resultant of climate change, water and air pollution. Conservation and conservationism seek to fully protect plant, animal and biosphere diversity as well as the regeneration and sustainable supply of natural resources while minimizing and reducing anthropogenic or human impacts upon the ecosystem.

After high oil prices resulting from the embargoes of the 1970s, politicians and industry rushed to develop technologies and operations for the production and proliferation of alternative energy sources such as renewable fuels (biofuels), solar energy, wind energy, domestic production of oil and natural gas, and emerging fuels such as hydrogen as well as material recycling. Low energy prices in the following decades quashed interest and demand for alternative energy, although rising global demand for fossil fuels and heightened global alarm regarding climate change and global warming from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has resurrected R&D and industry investment in alternative and renewable energy resources. Energy efficiency and renewable energy (EERE) continue to be dominant strategies for greater resource conservation, including technologies such as PV, wind power, hydro power, biomass, biofuels, fuel cells, biogas, smart grids, energy-efficient or green buildings (including LEED) and hybrid and electric vehicles. Emerging challenges in pure and sufficient water supplies has raised interested in effective water management, treatment, desalinization, and usage efficiency.