The world depends heavily on fossil fuels such as coal,...

The world depends heavily on fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas for energy, and while the worlds population and energy consumption continue to increase, the non-renewable resources we need to produce energy will eventually be depleted. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the supply of oil left in the world will last us twenty five more years. One may say that twenty five years is a long time, and by then new sources of fuel will surely have replaced the nonrenewable sources we currently use to meet our energy demands. This, however, should not be the approach the world takes to solve this issue. Instead of hoping that the problem will solve itself in the years to come, it is our duty as a planet to†¦show more content†¦Through anaerobic digestion, methane gas is produced, which can then be refined for use as fuel. Biomass can also be converted into ethanol or biodiesel, which can serve as substitutes for currently used transportation fuels, decreasing the reliance on fossil fuel. Crops such as sugar cane or corn can be fermented to produce ethanol, while natural oils from palms or soybeans can be used to create biodiesel. Another way to harness the energy of biomass it to burn it. Even though the combustion of solid biomass may not be as environmentally sound as fermenting and refining it to make fuel, combusted biomass still emits less pollution than the combustion of other fuels such as oil and coal. The combustion of biomass can be used domestically to heat homes in place of oil or gas heaters, or even industrially to provide electricity to run machinery. With less of a negative impact on the environment, the use of biomass to create energy can decrease the worlds reliance on fossil fuels, and decrease pollution through the conversion of waste into a usable energy source. The use of biomass as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels is considered to be beneficial to the environment because it is believed that it will reduce the increase of carbon dioxide in the Earths atmosphere. Biomass is considered a carbon neutral source of energy because the carbon released into the atmosphere will be absorbed again when new plants/biomass grows in aShow MoreRelatedNuclear 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 MoreThe United States And Fossil Fuels1117 Words   |  5 PagesThe United States relies heavily on fossil fuels as its main source of energy and with the limited su pply, we ll have to develop and utilize alternative sources for clean, renewable, cheap and effective energy to power this country and the world into the future. It will be important for the health of our planet to utilize renewable resources that have no greenhouse gas emission. Out of necessity the world will eventually need to stop using fossil fuels for energy. There are many states that relyRead MoreAlternative Energy And Renewable Energy1668 Words   |  7 Pagesand energy has steadily grown, as well as our dependence on them. Nowadays, power and electricity are in every facet of our daily lives. Due to this, we overlook several negative effects our traditional use of fossil fuels have caused. Fossil fuels are fuel deposits that were formed hundreds of millions of years ago, which is where the term fossil fuels come from. The two most common fossil fuels currently in use are coal and oil, which power the majority of our infrastructure. However, fossil fuelsRead MoreUnited States Energy Crisis During 1970 Essay examples1271 Words   |  6 PagesThe energy crisis of the 1970’s caused authorities to search out other renewable sources of energy, which currently remain undeveloped and keep the U.S. today generally dependant on foreign fuel. According to Merriam Webster dictionary, a crisis is a â€Å"difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention.† The energy crisis of the 1970’s produced a backlash that affected much of the economy and spread fear and panic over the United States. Energy Crisis (1970’s) states that the crisis officiallyRead MoreA Common Misconception Of Fossil Fuels1317 Words   |  6 Pagescommon misconception that fossil fuels will cause pollution, mankind should rely on fossil fuels for energy not only because they are cheap and plentiful, but also because alternative energy is very unreliable. Coal $0.10 Natural Gas $0.07 Nuclear $0.095 Wind $0.20 Solar PV $0.125 Solar Thermal $0.24 Fossil Fuels are cheap and plentiful. Coal costs 10 cents per kilowatt hour compared to the 12 cents to 24 cents of solar panels. Natural gas costs 7 cents per kilowattRead MoreEpa s New Clean Power Plan1108 Words   |  5 PagesIndustry Conditions Introduction Consol Energy is heavily involved in two major industries: coal and natural gas. This is an interesting situation given that the two industries directly compete against one another. As a result, Consol is diversified and strategically projected against the risk of downturn in either profit stream. Coal Industry The coal industry has a gloomy economic forecast moving forward. Perhaps the greatest immediate uncertainty the industry faces is the EPA’s new Clean PowerRead MoreRenewable Energy Is Not The Answer978 Words   |  4 PagesRenewable Energy Is Not the Answer Renewable Energy is defined as: a renewable natural resource or source of energy, such as water, wind, or solar power (Oxford English Dictionary). There are those that believe that our nation should abandon the use of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal, and switch to renewable energy sources. Although the change could yield many benefits, I believe that renewable energy is a not viable alternative for our nation’s energy future because it would createRead MoreRenewable Resources And Natural Resources2610 Words   |  11 Pageswind and coal, while natural resources, have significant differences. The most glaring dissimilarity between the two is one is a renewable resource (wind) and the other is nonrenewable (coal). Wind is classified as a renewable resource because wind is a naturally occurring process that is unlimited and it requires no time to replenish itself. Coal is classified as a nonrenewable resource because it is a substance that takes millions of year s to recreate the original amount. Wind energy has manyRead MoreTaking a Look at Global Warming1373 Words   |  5 Pagesincrease of Earth’s temperature caused by the growth of atmosphere’s greenhouse gases. The burning of fossil fuels, like coal, petroleum, oil and natural gas is the most widely known cause of Global warming. In the attached pie, is shown the total world energy consumption which is high in Coal consumption -25.1%, Oil-34, 3% and Gas-20.9%. Only Coal, Oil and Gas are summing 80.3% of the world energy consumption. In the United States, according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), almost 50 percentRead MoreShould Renewable Energy Sources Replace Fossil Fuels? Essay2016 Words   |  9 PagesShould Renewable Energy Sources Replace Fossil Fuels? Polar bears are the most known animals for the impacts of climate change on species. Global warming has been most prominent in the Arctic, and this trend is expected to continue. Their dependence on sea ice makes them highly vulnerable to a changing climate. Polar bears greatly rely on the sea ice environment for traveling, hunting, mating, resting, and in some areas, maternal dens (WWF). Specifically, they depend heavily on sea ice-dependent