Fossil Fuels

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Recommended: Outline the effects of fossil fuels on the environment

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...

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...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

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