What could people do in order to make nonrenewable resources last longer?

Nonrenewable resources are resources that are in a limited quantity and takes a very long time to regenerate and hence may run out if we aren't careful. The most common nonrenewable resources we use are energy resources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. These are used for generating electricity and heat as well as for transportation fuel. There are a number of steps people can take to make sure they last longer. Otherwise, with the current consumption trend, we may run out of them within a century or so. 

• Use of renewable resources: The most significant step would be to switch over to renewable resources, such as solar energy, wind energy, wave energy, etc. This way, our consumption patterns can stay the same while we save nonrenewable resources. People can install solar panels on their roofs and/or can have wind turbines (vertical axis) in the backyard.


• Reducing consumption: We can also try to reduce our energy consumption by taking simple steps, such as carpooling, biking or walking short distances, judicious use of heating, etc. 


• More efficient systems: We can also use more efficient devices, such as energy star rated electrical devices, hybrid cars, etc. 

Hope this helps.