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outline effects of fossil fuels on the environment
impact of oil in economy
outline effects of fossil fuels on the environment
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Those old enough to remember the gas shortage of the 1970s will realize what could happen if we run out of fossil fuels without a viable alternative. Today, fossil fuel reserves are getting harder to extract and are of lower grade and insufficient volume to meet global demand. Concern about fossil fuels and their effect on the environment are becoming more important. So how can the United States lessen its dependence on fossil fuels? To truly solve the problem, it will be necessary to change much of our infrastructure as well as our day to day practices regarding transportation, food and electricity. Transportation will need to be changed both in how we use it as well as what type of fuels are used. Food production, storage and transportation will all have to be modified. Electricity will also need to be changed both in how it is generated, as well as how we use it day to day. When most people think of fossil fuel use, they think of personal transportation. There are many ways to reduce your transportation energy use. For short distances, walking and biking are healthy alternatives to using a fossil fuel using vehicle. In many areas, public transportation can also be an option. Electric cars are also an efficient alternative in the right areas. The biggest issue with electric cars is the ability to charge the vehicle away from home. Another concern with these vehicles is their limited driving range. Buying a diesel car to reduce your dependence on fossil fuels is another alternative. Diesels can run on biodiesel fuels or entirely from non-fossil fuel based ingredients. Most diesels require little or no mechanical conversion to run on biodiesel fuel, which is becoming more readily available at gas stations across... ... middle of paper ... ...work. Changes in how we grow and transport our food will also help. Reducing our usage of electricity while also reducing the source of the electricity will also provide huge benefits. There are many other areas where improvements could be made, but these areas I believe would provide the greatest impact on reducing our fossil fuel dependency. Works Cited Why People still use inefficient incandescent light bulbs, Jolie Lee, December 27, 2013 retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2013/12/27/incandescent-light-bulbs-phaseout-leds/4217009/ Encouraging Renewable Energy, retrieved from http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Energy-and-Climate/Renewable-Energy.aspx Wood Stoves, nd, retrieved from http://www.forgreenheat.org/technology/wood_stoves.html Burn Wise; Learn before you burn, January 2014, retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/index.html
In 1908, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) predicted that the total future supply of U.S. oil would not exceed 23 billion barrels. In 1914, the U.S. Bureau of Mines predicted that only 5.7 billion barrels of oil remained. In 1920, the USGS proclaimed the peak in U.S. oil production was almost reached. In 1939, the Department of Interior declared that there was only 13 years of oil production remaining. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter claimed, “We are now running out of oil.” Despite these predictions, the U.S. has produced over 200 billion barrels of oil since the early 1900’s. (The Futurist, 1997)
Fossil fuels are the basis of the world economy, providing electricity and transportation for many. It is undeniable that fossil fuels have raised the standard of living and uplifted impoverished communities by providing clean water and electricity. However, it is also a known fact that burning fossil fuels endangers the health of the public, contributes to climate change, and creates unsafe habitants for marine and wildlife. Burning fossil fuels introduces more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, warming the earth, melting glaciers and the polar ice caps, acidifying the oceans, and finally raising the sea levels. This dominos affect from burning fossil fuels will create an inhabitable earth. By subsidizing fossil fuel companies it allows for
Gloria Reuben once stated, “Mother Nature's mercy and forgiveness have run dry, as we ceaselessly abuse her and take her for granted in order for us to continue our addiction to using fossil fuels.” Reuben is suggesting that the addiction to burning fossil fuels abuses nature consistently and humans take our natural resources for granted. The world has a heavy dependency upon fossil fuels such as oil, methane, coal, gas and petroleum. As population and industry grows and reliance on these non-renewable energy sources multiplies, how are fossil fuels negatively impacting Earth? The adverse effects of fossil fuels is staggering. Fossil fuels are responsible for human fatalities, gargantuan environmental risks and environmental hazards. Stepping toward renewable energy resources and cutting fossil fuel emissions creates a greener, cleaner and safer planet for all.
There is a grave and pressing danger lurking through the atmosphere, afflicting oceans, and preying on the environment. But the most bone-chilling monster is the shadow of oblivion cast on society. Living as if it were the 18th century, America remains stuck in an industrial revolution mindset. According to The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, “The United States gets 81% of its total energy from oil, coal, and natural gas, all of which are fossil fuels” (Fossil Fuels par. 1 ). The unfaltering dependency on fossil fuels is a capricious practice that will eventually fall victim to lack of materials and startling consequences. Now is the time to reject ignorance and to
Semantically fossil fuels are a renewable source of energy, however given that it takes millions of years for the organic materials to be broken down and converted, it is wholly unrealistic to consider them as renewable. As the demand for fossil fuels increases and source diminish faster than they are replentished, the United States must work towards a renewable energy independent state using truly renable sources, both technically and in practice. With changes in the home, as consumers in buying goods and with alternative fuel sources backed by public trust and governmental involvement, the United States could drastically lessen its dependence on fossil fuels, foreign and domestic.
From the home to factories, families and industries are reliant on the use of nonrenewable fossil fuels to feed the needs of the everyday human. Fossil fuels are the main source of energy over clean, renewable sources such as the use of wind, solar energy, and water to power our homes, schools, and industries. In fact, about 85% of energy use comes from fossils fuels. The main reason being that using fossil fuels is cheaper than wind and solar energy. “For nearly two centuries, fossil fuels have been the cheapest source of energy” and widely abundant (Marburger, A global framework: international aspects of climate change). However, overtime fossil fuels will disappear due to the lack of time to replenish itself with the human races rapid use of it. Despite its current status of availability, there are many controversial issue in using fossil fuels; the most prominent issue being that it is the cause of rapid climate
The 21st century is heavily reliant on burning of fossil fuels, from fueling airplanes, to cars, all the way down to factories. Although the burning of these fuels is helping us advance, it is also harming the planet in ways that no one can imagine. With the planet using over 82.4 million barrels of fossil fuels being used each and every day, there is a need for change, fast. Society must adapt and change in order to successfully preserve the planet, because as of now it is our only home. You might be thinking how one might solve the issue at hand, this is quite simple actually.
Pogue, David. "New Reasons To Change Light Bulbs." The New York Times 21 Mar. 2013, New York ed.: B1. Print.
Fossil fuels are comprised of: Coal, Natural Gas, and Oil. While coal is a huge product used they way it is, Oil can be used in its crude state or refined into other forms of energy. Gasoline is one of the major fuels used for generators or to power engines in cars. This is one of the biggest demands in the US today. With gas prices lowering in the future the demand will only rise with the price being below 2$ a gallon for the first time in a decade. “The US is among countries that pledged Paris to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. But if people start driving more because of lower prices, that will work against the goal.” (Brady) Natural gas and propane are slightly better than oil but nowhere as good as the renewable sources of energy. They are both extracted by a dangerous procedure called fracking. fracking is when pipes are built deep underground but still in the drinkable water table (ground water) and then water is sent down to release the trapped gasses then removed to be sold for energy use. There is another form of non renewable energy that has only a small impact on the environment, and it is nuclear energy. This process requires the rare material Uranium which is highly toxic to humans and most other mammals. It is also extremely hard to find and very expensive. The main downside to this form is the removal of the slow decomposing
Over the last two centuries, humanity has become increasingly reliant on fossil fuels. Over that time, the consequences of constantly burning fossil fuels have accumulated into a threat to industrialized cities. The burning of fossil fuels causes acid rain to shower on cities and ecosystems around the world, tormenting their inhabitants. The increasingly deadly pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels has caused the deaths of many people around the world by causing respiratory problems. Not only has the pollution worsened, but the supply of fossil fuels is not limitless – as humanity’s reliance increases the supply decreases, and that is all the more reason to break humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels should be replaced with cleaner alternatives because fossil fuels cause environmental hazards, are non-renewable, and are detrimental to human health.
Fossil fuels are an important part of life. When you turn on the lights, watch TV, or take a shower, the electricity that you are using is being generated by fossil fuels. The three types of fossil fuels are coal, crude oil, and natural gas. They all take millions of years to form, so they are considered to be “non-renewable”- eventually, the fossil fuels will all be used up. One dangerous biological effect of using fossil fuels is ocean acidification. Extracting and transporting fossil fuels can also be very dangerous. Environmentally damaging accidents such as groundwater contamination, land subsidence, and oil spills occur frequently. Global warming is another possible environmental effect. Fossil fuels have a crucial role in modern society, but since they are non-renewable and dangerous, we should reduce our dependence on them and explore alternative energy sources. Wind energy, hydroelectricity, and solar energy are some examples of renewable fuel sources. There are also many things that people can do everyday to save energy (and, in turn, conserve fossil fuels).
People can also reduce the use of fossil fuels by doing simple things for instance switching off lights and appliances when leaving the room. Walking or cycling instead of driving a car or use public transport for maybe longer journeys. Little things like this will make a big difference, making our planet a better place.
Industrial and technological mechanics are used to power the world. In order to do this, fossil fuels have been the sole source for most of these mechanics-such as buildings, vehicles, electricity, etc. However, as mankind progresses in these advances, the demand of power sources increases with each given year, thus the world’s fossil fuel reserves are depleted at an alarming rate. In addition, the continuous use of these non-renewable resources results in deadly implications. Although fossil fuels are a suitable source of energy, renewable resources are essentially a better form of energy because it is renewable, it is eco-friendly, and it brings economic benefits.
...outcompete fossil fuels, but by using different forms of alternative energy fossil fuels use could be reduced drastically. Now is the time for a conversion from fossil fuels to alternative energy.
...he slow but visible effects it has on the environment. No renewable energy source has matched the efficiency of coal and that is precisely why people prefer the ease of just flicking on the light switch without even understanding where it came from. In order to make the switch we will need to look at everything in the long term. It might be costly at first, but making the switch will be cheap in the long run. Nuclear energy for one has proven to have a promising future. Nuclear power today provides us with cheap electricity. It also helps expand the making of drugs and the equipment in the medical field. Now imagine if we had more plants. Approximately 10,000 plants would be needed to replace all the fossil plants. Perhaps instead of trying to replace fossil fuels with one alternative, we could use all of them. That way we would need a little power from each source.