I agree with bah's post above.

While governments at all levels expect people to "go green", conserve, reduce consumption, etc. - they contradict their intentions when they promote GROWTH.

        Municipal planning departments and governments don't stop to realize how much oil is consumed in the building process.   Large gas-guzzling vehicles are needed to drive back and forth to prepare the building site; large vehicles (cement trucks, etc.) are needed for the building process, as well as to deliver materials over large distances.  And no one considers the amount of oil that is used up to make these materials.   Add to this various tradespeople driving back and forth from Tim Horton's in their large pickup trucks and mini-vans.   Now multiply the total amount of oil used up to build one subdivision over a period of time by the numerous multitude of new subdivisions springing up everywhere - not only in North America but in many countries around the world!     (This applies to apartment buildings as well).

These new residential buildings (whether subdivisions, apartment buildings, etc.) will also significantly add to the demand for energy (hydro, natural gas, etc).   This counterbalances any efforts made by others to conserve!

Now we have to factor in other buildings that are built to serve the increasing population in every new city.   New community centres, larger police stations, new schools, etc.   

All this building and development is seen by most people as a wonderful thing.  They call it GROWTH.   But how many people actually stop to think how various efforts to conserve are counterbalanced by this "growth".    This "growth" greatly accelerates the depletion of oil and oil products (ie.plastic, etc), natural gas, wood and other limited resources.