>>As I see it, the primary alternative to consumption reduction is the shift to renewable energy production, but if there are other strategies, what are those?

- Increases in efficiency (e.g. building envelope, HVAC, appliances).

- More efficient cargo transport (e.g. water in place of rail, rail in place of trucking). Both have issues. Water has the Jones act, rail has, well, whatever's caused intermodal to be so expensive.