I have nothing against conservation. Using an increasingly expensive resource more efficiently is usually a good thing. But, as you point out, it won't solve the problem in a world of steadily increasing population. Only additional energy sources will do that.
That said, given today's political alignment, energy self sufficiency is a pipe dream.
The best way to conserve one source of energy is to substitute another that is cheaper and/or more efficient. All the "greenie" proposals are neither.