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I. Introduction
One of the most hotly contested debates in today’s realm of environmental concern is how to secure energy for the maintenance and improvement of quality of life in the future. To date, humanity has been blessed with plentiful reserves of cheap crude oil, which can be refined into a multitude of items that make the lives of many so convenient—gasoline, heating oil, natural gas, plastics, and fertilizers. In some parts of the world, these technologies merely facilitate survival. But concern over what happens when these supplies dwindle is universal. Science has revealed that oil will not last forever at the rate it is being consumed. Therefore, alternatives must be developed that can provide sustainable levels of energy well into humanity’s future. We are entering a world in which, energy-speaking, renewable is the name of the game.
In addition to facilitating the weaning of humans from fossil fuels, renewable energy poses many environmental benefits because renewable means clean. Most scientists will argue that, though the degree to which we benefit might be speculative, human and environmental welfare will increase with tapping of renewable energy sources. If modern science is in any way accurate, using clean and renewable energy would result in better air quality, curbing of climate change and the Greenhouse Effect, and perhaps even the luxury of supplying most or all of our energy domestically. This means that countries like the U.S. would stand heavily resistant to both the ramifications of a global energy crisis and to international political tensions surrounding the trading of oil. Despite its being more expensive, there is much to be gained from renewable energy.
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...erations, we must make the leap.
Works Cited
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“Gasoline.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 4/15/2007. http://0-search.eb.com.tiger.coloradocollege.edu/eb/article-9036148
Godoi AFL, Ravindra K, Godoi RHM, Andrade SJ, Santiago-Silva M, Vaeck LV, Grieken RN. 2004. “Fast chromatographic determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aerosol samples from sugar cane burning.” Journal of Chromatography A 1027:49-53.
Hodge C. 2002. “Ethanol use in US gasoline should be banned, not expanded.” Oil and Gas Journal 100:20-27.
Wackernagel M, Rees W. 1995. “Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth.” Gabriola Island (Canada): New Society.
In conclusion, Corn Ethanol Biofuel has many negative and positive effects. It has a negative effect because it releases greenhouse gases but positive effects as well because it is inexpensive to produce and use, and is a renewable source. The future of corn ethanol is uncertain: “Corn-based ethanol will most likely not be the staple fuel source in the future, as it is only a short term solution and poses problems in the long run. Ethanol contains 33% less energy than gasoline, and corrodes engines that it is used in. Average production and final sales are 62 cents/gal higher than conventional gasoline. Even though political support is waning, Congress will most likely not abandon corn ethanol.” ("Future of Corn Ethanol.) I think corn ethanol
---. “Environmentalist for the Twenty-first Century.” IPA Review 52.3 (September 2000): pages 3-8. 3 April 2006 .
Over the past years, planet Earth has been warming up. According to NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, average temperatures have risen around1.4 degrees Fahrenheit/0.8 degrees Celsius since 1880. In fact, the rate of warming is increasing. It was reported by a number of climate studies that the last two decades were the hottest in 400 years. Global warming is a major threat to the planet. It is agreed that humans have caused most of the past century's warming by releasing greenhouse gasses, as we power our electronic lives. The “greenhouse effect” is performed when the gasses let out into Earth’s atmosphere trap heat from the sun. Through the burning of fossil fuels, humans are enhancing the greenhouse effect and increasing the temperatures of the planet. Although the greenhouse effect is what keeps the planet warm, thereby supporting life, too much would also result in severe issues. Now, with the increasing rate of greenhouse gases emissions, frozen glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, and wildlife is scrambling to keep up with the fast pace. Above that, weather can also become more and more extreme. Something has to be done.
The United States government continues to provide subsidies for the production of ethanol because the future benefits of providing ethanol subsidies outweigh the costs of providing ethanol subsidies. Since taxpayers provide the funds for ethanol subsides, the subsidies do not directly cost the government financially. In addition, by providing ethanol subsidies the government would benefit in the future because the ethanol subsidies act as a strong incentive for the people in states whose economic structures greatly benefit from the ethanol subsidies to support the government officials who continue to provide economic subsidies.
The consequences of the United States’ reliance on oil have brought together the nation’s leaders in ways that few issues have in decades. The call for action to deliver advanced biofuels and efficient flex-fuel vehicles now comes from national security experts and business leaders down to consumers. They have all come to the conclusion that as each day passes, more of the nation’s wealth is lost and complacency thwarts critical national policy changes that are urgently needed1. The advantages of biofuels are widespread. First and foremost, the United States must move away from traditional oil consumption. Oil is the largest sole contributor to our trade deficit. Records state that more than $1 billion a day in funds are sent to oil exporting countries1. Compounded with ongoing conflicts in the Middle East as well as other oil producing nations, this has left America indebted to much of the world. By transitioning from fossil fuels to biofuels, the United States can liberate itself from foreign dependence.
Ethanol is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid. Other names that ethanol can also be known as include ethyl alcohol, ethyl hydrate, ethyl hydroxide, fermentation alcohol, methylcarbinol, and grain alcohol. The condensed structural formula for ethanol is C2H5OH, and the expanded structural formula is shown in figure 1. This chemical compound belongs to the alcohol function group therefore characterized by the hydroxyl group –OH combined with a carbon atom. Some characteristics of ethanol include a melting point at -114.1°C, boiling point at 78.5°C and a flash point at 16.6°C. Since it has a low freezing point it is used in thermometer for temperatures below -40°C, and also in antifreeze. Ethanol is the product of fermentation of carbohydrates, in the absence of air. The carbohydrates include crops like corn, wheat, grain, and barley, which makes ethanol quite economic friendly. This chemical compound is used in many processes and is found in many everyday products.
Pimental D and Patzek (2005). Ethanol Production using Corn, Switchgrass and Wood; Biodiesel Production using soybean and Sunflower. Earth and Environmental Sciences, 14 (1).
The ecological footprint is a mathematical tool that was developed by Doctor Mathis Wackernagel and Professor William Rees in 1992 to calculate how many hectares of land or acres of land are required to support one human being. Humans use up the planets’ natural resources to survive on a daily basis. These resources include fish, forests, land, water, and other agricultural products. In an aspect, we can think of humans as parasites to the planet Earth because it is our host and we need its resources to survive. Within the means of the ecological footprint, we want to look closely as the production of Earth’s resources, against the consumption rate of the human race. We can think of the ecological foot print analysis as an approach to a global
Within the last ten to twenty five years the use of renewable energy resources have become more popular among many individuals. Renewable energy sources made their real entry onto the international energy scene in the 1970s when the two worldwide oil crises occurred. During that time, the prices of oil skyrocketed, thus establishing new ideas and alternatives for energy. In 2010, worldwide renewable energy production reached 66.83 quadrillion BTUs. Renewable energy resources are sources of energy that cannot be depleted. According to the Renewable Energy Working Party (REWP) of the International Energy Agency has set down the following definition: “Renewable Energy is energy that is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly.
Before talking about biofuels, you need to know the basics from where it is created from. Biofuels are produced from biomass, which is derived from living or recently living plant matter such as trees, grasses, agricultural residue, algae, and other biological material. “Biofuel is considered carbon neutral”, which absorbs roughly the same amount of carbon dioxide during growth as when it is burnt (Rutherford, 2009). Biofuels is much cleaner than petrol/diesel because of the considerable impact petrol/diesel has on the environment from the high fuel emissions. Biofuels will help decrease dependence on fossil fuels such as oil, gas, petrol, and coal. This paper will discuss the many crops that biofuels derive from, the various types of biofuels, and the advantages (Pros) and disadvantages (Cons) of biofuels. These biofuels will reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, improve our air quality, and support rural economies.
World Commission on Environment & Development. (1987). Our common future. New York: Oxford University Press.
Renewable energy will make the US a safer and cleaner home. Non renewable energy, like fossil fuels, are increasing global warming emission in an irreversible way. However, there is a way to stop the growing emissions; by reducing fossil fuel consumption, and switching to alternative energy. It will create jobs improving the economy, help the environment, and make us less vulnerable to the worlds fuel market.
Biodiesel is a clean burning renewable fuel made by various mix of agricultural oils, recycled cooking oil and animal fats. It is intended to be used as a substitute for diesel fuel, or can be blended with diesel fuel in any proportion. Biodiesel can be used in almost any diesel engine with slight alteration and no damage to the engine. As it has lower toxicity and safer to handle compared to diesel fuel, it constructs green jobs and improving our environment.
Societies found throughout the globe are interconnected through our ecosystem. Over the years, our ability to think of climate change on a global scale has improved, but we are still far from solving our environmental issues. While on our quest for improving quality of life and fulfilling our dive to expand, we as a combined human race are the cause of deforestation, pollution of our
Social ecology observes humans as the main cause of the destroyed earth, by overpopulating it. The world is made up of numerous people, with different races and religions, it’s because of the bad habits men and women have created which have lead to a polluted earth (Carlson, Felton, 2001). Mur...