As the world population continues to grow explosively, we're going to have to get more out of our watts, or reduce how many watts we use. Energy sustainability will form one of the most daunting challenges for humanity in the future in an era where people (in developed world more so than the developing world) have to a degree overcome many challenges (epidemic disease, starvation, sanitation, etc.)*
Take this handy little pie chart from the Nebraska Public Power District:
Heating and cooling form the largest part of general home electric usage, while lighting and "things that plug in" form the rest. So... to tackle electricity, one must address these areas.
The sun is a nice free source of energy, especially here in Southern California, so it would be a good place to start.
*I am aware that these factors still exist, but not to the degree that they did in the past. For example, while AIDS is an emergent concern, it still doesn't have the same population-eradicating scope as the bubonic plague from the 1300s or the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918.
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