Fossil Fuels And Electricity Consumption

Fossil fuels and their use is a major point of concern throughout the world at present and will continue to be so for a long time to come

. So why all the concern and what can we do about it?

These fuels have provided the developed world with a cheap source of energy, and this energy has allowed technological and financial success. This is almost entirely due to the ready availability of coal, oil and natural gas. Those fuels are responsible for running the power stations, our cars, factories, and even the production of food through large scale farming and fertilizers.

Given that coal and oil have been used as fuel throughout human history, why has this now become a problem?

The answers to these questions are population and lifestyle. The human population is over three times what it was less than 80 years ago. At the same time our technology is advancing, so that virtually all aspects of our lives use electricity in some way. Also take into account the amount of fuel that is burned each day in cars alone and the picture becomes clearer.

The most publicized problem with fossil fuels is pollution. We can see pollution when we're behind a truck or bus while driving, but pollution from power stations is less obvious. Nevertheless, whenever we use an electrical device the power is being generated at a power station. It is true that there are an increasing number of alternative energy power stations coming online, but on the whole the base load is still provided by fossil fuel power plants.

Power stations burn fuel to boil water. The steam is used to turn turbines which rotate huge copper wire coils inside giant magnets, and it is these turbines that generate our electricity. This electricity is then transported to our homes by a series of power lines and substations. The burning of the fuel produces carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas, meaning it has the effect of trapping heat in the atmosphere.

Consider the electrical devices we use on a daily basis. Computers, televisions, mobile phones, MP3 players, heaters, air conditioners and so on. Then multiply that by the number of people using these devices and we can start to appreciate the scale of our electricity use. The more electricity we use the more pollution we create.

Even though the problem is large there are steps we can take individually to reduce it. Using less energy is the first step. Turning off devices rather than leaving them on standby immediately reduces our energy use without having any effect on our lifestyle. This will also result in lower electricity bills.

Another thing we can do is buy our household electricity from a green energy provider. Most power utilities have a green option, though unfortunately this is usually more expensive than electricity from coal or oil.

For a more substantial investment you can have your own solar hot water or solar electricity system on your roof. These are long term investments, particularly the solar electricity. However, these do have the added benefit of increasing the value of your home. Buying an electric or hybrid vehicle is also a high up front cost, though it's easier to see savings there because of the high and rising price of gas.

We can have an impact on our consumption of fossil fuels. By reducing our own energy use and becoming more informed on the issues associated with energy consumption we can reduce our impact on the planet.

by: Roger Vanderlely.

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