I was just looking at my gas bill for July in Texas. We used 42 cents worth of gas and the total with adjustments was $20.19 This billing structure for regulated public utilities is set up to encourage waste of energy and thus insure profits for the monopolies, and incidentally promote global warming.
How many other instances where public policy promotes energy waste? Let me list a few that come to mind.
Design of road networks to make sure that motorists must pass in front of retail establishments which guarantees congestion and stop and go driving. Stopping doesn't warm the planet but the "go" part means reestablishing the kinetic energy of tons of metal. (why do you think city driving is so energy wasteful?)
Public transportation networks have pretty much been abandoned for the same commercial reason. Commuters on busses or trolleys will not likely stop and spend their money.
Streetlights may make a person feel safer, but they are also a convenience for thieves.
Hub and spoke transportation networks made sense in the 19th century when we all went "downtown" for work and shopping. Who does that anymore? But we still have that mind set. The Houston megalopolis where I live is in the process of building a 200+ mile Grand Parkway around the city through the six county area. This will mean even longer commutes as the cheap land gets developed.