Fossil Fuels The World s Primary Energy Source - 952 Words

Fossil fuels are currently the world s primary energy source. Fossil fuel includes coal, natural gas, and oil. In 2015, The United States consumed 97.7 billion btu of energy, 81% of that was from fossil fuels (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2016). Fossil fuel use will cause air and water pollution that will negatively affect all life on Earth. In 2012, it was estimated that air pollution caused 6.5 million deaths worldwide (WHO, 2016). These pollutants can worsen or cause respiratory and heart conditions. But, it s not just humans that can be affected, marine life also suffers from fossil fuel usage. According to The United States government, the 2010 BP oil spill dumped an estimated that 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf†¦show more content†¦Solar energy systems do not cause air or water pollution, and doesn’t contribute to greenhouse gases that could causes climate change. Another benefit to going solar is the cost to install it has dropped by more t han 60% over the last 10 years (SEIA, 2017). The decline in cost is a trend that is expected to continue. Wind is also another alternative source to fossil fuels. It can be used for generating electricity, charging batteries, pumping water, and grinding grain. Like solar, wind is a clean renewable source of energy and does not emit any harmful gases or pollution. Wind turbines can be installed in oceans, where wind potential is higher. Larger wind turbines can generate energy for a building or several houses, while small turbines can be connected to individual homes Wind turbines can also be combined with solar panel systems to provide additional energy. The U.S. has already seen positive effects due to wind energy. According to the American Wind Energy Association, production of wind power in the United States in 2015 avoided consumption of 73 billion gallons of water and reduced CO2 emissions by 132 million metric tons, while providing USD 7.3 bn in public health savings (Wikipedia Wind Power, 2017). According to the DOE 2015 Wind Technologies Market Report, wind turbine cost declined 20% - 40% since 2008. Biomass is another form of clean renewable energy source that can be used to lessen fossil fuel dependence. Biomass consists of organic materialShow MoreRelatedFossil Fuels : The World s Primary Energy Source1185 Words   |  5 Pages Fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, are currently the world s primary energy source. Formed from organic material over the course of millions of years, fossil fuels have fueled U.S. and global economic development over the past century. Yet fossil fuels are finite resources and they can also irreparably harm the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the burning of fossil fuels was responsible for 79 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2010. TheseRead MoreThe Sources Of Fossil Fuels1429 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper will discuss the three main fossil fuels which are oil, coal, and natural gas. This research shows how the fossil fuels are formed, where they could be found, and explain how they were forme d over millions of years. This paper will show the numerous advantages of fossil fuels compared to the disadvantages and how they are hurting the Earth. Fossils fuels are critical to the function of everyday life. The world would be a different if fossil fuels and their uses were not to of use. Read MoreNew Energy for the Future1358 Words   |  6 PagesNew Energy for the Future For years man has relied on energy in order to be successful in life. The industrial revolution relied on coal for the new inventions brought into the world. Life as has never been the same since then. However since that time, there has been little done to improve on energy efficiency and humans still primarily rely on fossil fuels for energy. For over a hundred years the Earth has become more polluted and dirtier than ever before. Now, with new, innovative technology thereRead MoreFossil Fuels : The Source Of Energy1709 Words   |  7 Pagessociety fossil fuels are the primary source of energy for most of the industrialized world. Utilizing fossil fuels has been vital to the industrialization development. Throughout industrialization of many parts of the world, energy has been needed at a much higher density then before and fossil fuels have fulfilled that need. Coal, gas, and oil are the three major sources of fossil fuels in the world. Despite other means of energy, such as wind power, hydroelectric power and so on, fossil fuels are stillRead MoreAlternative Energy Sources Of Fossil Fuels1701 Words   |  7 PagesRevolution in 1760, the world has run on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are critical to global energy infrastructure due to their inherent advantages and generate significant economic value as a result. However, the negative economic and environmental implications of fossil fuels demands a permanent transition towards alternative energy. The world will continue to investigate alternative energy sources and must commit to them to avoid long-term environmental degradation. Ultimately, fossil fuels are on the wayRead MoreBiomass As A Renewable Energy Resource907 Words   |  4 Pages3 Biomass as a renewable energy resource Biomass can be considered as a renewable energy resource, although burning biomass releases carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere similar to burning fossil fuel (Liu H. 2011). There is a significant difference in CO2 release between burning a fossil fuel and burning biomass. Burning a fossil fuel releases CO2 that has been locked up for millions of years in the ground, affecting the natural CO2 cycle and resulting in an increase in the CO2 concentration inRead MoreFossil Fuels : The World s Primary Energy Resources1736 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract Fossil Fuels such us oil, coal, and natural gas are currently the world’s primary energy resources because they originate from living things. Formed millions of years ago from the decomposition of organic materials such as plants and animal life, it is non-renewable resources that supplied U.S. and global economic development over the past century. In fact, Fossil fuel industries mine or drill for this energy resources, burn them to provide electricity. Natural gas and oil are used whenRead MoreEnergy Consumption And Its Effect On The Environment1660 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Energy consumption is universal to all, in spite of the location in the world. Different countries and people consume different amounts of energy at any given time. Energy consumption ranges from small-scale to large-scale uses for different purposes. However, what is common to all despite the amount used is the impact of the consumption that cuts across every region. Among the most fundamental sources of energy used on regular basis, include oil, natural gas, and coal, which are fossil fuelsRead MoreNuclear Fusion And Nuclear Energy Essay1638 Words   |  7 Pages ¬Nuclear energy is energy in the nucleus (core) of an atom. Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe. There is enormous energy in the bonds that hold atoms together. Nuclear energy can be used to make electricity. But first the energy must be released. It can be released from atoms in two ways: nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. In nuclear fusion, energy is released when atoms are combined or fused together to form a larger atom. This is how the sun produces energy. In nuclearRead MoreSolar Energy : A Cleaner Tomorrow1159 Words   |  5 PagesSolar Energy: A Cleaner Tomorrow Renewable energy sources have changed communities, consumers and businesses worldwide. By reducing or eliminating altogether the use of fossil fuel and replacing it with renewable energy sources, can promote a cleaner future for America. Solar power and solar energy are helping to assist many families in reducing their energy bills and more so with commercial businesses. Ultimately solar energy has the potential to become United States main source of energy, along