Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels

  • Submitted By: myki1209
  • Date Submitted: 05/20/2013 3:07 PM
  • Category: Science
  • Words: 432
  • Page: 2
  • Views: 1

FOSSIL FUEL: WHY IT'S BAD FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND HOW WE CAN FIX IT.

Our production and use of energy (most of which comes from fossil fuels) contributes to climate change, accounting for more than 80% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Yes 80% crazy right and that's because fossil fuel is NOT RENEWABLE meaning they can't be made again, they produce carbon dioxide which increases the effects of global warming but it also increases the demand for more energy due to the increasing climate change. Fossil fuel is a natural fuel such as coal or gas that was formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms. When these fuels are burned, the energy released can be harnessed to produced electricity, power vehicles, heat and cool homes, cook food and etc.

One of the problems with fossil fuel is that its non renewable, which means that because they come from the remains of living organisms that once they are burned they are gone and cannot be remade. When the last drop of oil or lump of coal is burned as well as gas is gone then there is no more. The supply of fuel that we use today is almost depleted due to the fact that is from nearly 20 million years ago. By the time it replenishes who knows what this planet will look like. This is why its a non renewable source of energy unlike wood which can be replanted to make more wood (a renewable resource). The next issue is that when fossil fuel is burned it combines with the oxygen and nitrogen in the air and creates carbon dioxide. When any carbon-based fossil fuel, including coal and oil, is burned it is converted largely into carbon dioxide. Renewable fuels, such as wood, do not increase the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels because the wood itself was created by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, as will the wood that may grow in trees that replace those cut down. However, burning of fossil fuels simply adds to the carbon dioxide levels. Lastly the use of fossil fuels increases the energy...

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