Preview

Are There Any Realistic Alternatives to Oil

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1574 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Are There Any Realistic Alternatives to Oil
-------------------------------------------------
Are There Any Realistic Alternatives To Oil?

While energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can be transformed between types. The main sources of energy on Earth are the fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and oil, and all of these are nonrenewable resources. Each of these were produced over a period of millions of years under the surface of the Earth, and it is not possible to renew these supplies. The main uses for the energy obtained from the fossil fuels include heating our homes and buildings, generating electricity to run everything from computers to alarm clocks, and providing transportation. In addition to being limited in supply, the burning of coal as an energy source releases sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, where it causes to the formation of acid rain. As a result of the government's decreasing the amount of sulfur dioxide levels, coal is losing popularity as an energy source. The world's population is growing, and the number of industrialized countries is increasing. Whereas in the past a relatively small predictable group of nations competed for fossil fuels, both competition and demand have significantly increased in recent years. There was a time when electrical systems in homes were only required to power such items as lamps, ovens, and television. When today society and technology place a much greater demand on energy production. Scientists and engineers are engaged in ongoing research to develop alternative energy sources, innovative methods for meeting the world's energy demands to reduce the dependence on traditional, nonrenewable resources, now there have been other ways to produce energy which is very good but each way has a disadvantage.

Solar Energy: The sun is the greatest source of energy available on planet Earth and it comes for free and it is very efficient . Solar energy is already a proven technology that is easy in construction and therefore easy to transport and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    help 3.06

    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages

    1. Solar power is the most expensive to use because of the equipment needed. Its simple to create with the sun shinning.…

    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Fossil fuels are currently the most widely used source of nonrenewable energy in today’s society. These sources of energy are used to generate power for both commercial and personal use in a number of different ways. “In 2005, more than 3/4 of total world energy consumption was through the use of fossil fuels.” (Environmental Literacy Council, 2008) Oil, the leading energy resource depended upon to fuel everyday functions produces 43.4 % of our world’s energy. Natural Gas, the second most relied upon resource produces 15.6 % of the world’s energy followed by coal, which produces 8.3 % of the world’s energy. Unsurprisingly, North America is the number one consumer of nonrenewable energy resources, consuming approximately 25 % of the fossil fuels extracted from the earth. (Environmental Literacy Council, 2008)…

    • 1927 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Energy is an important factor in todays society, it is neccesary to power business, manufacturing and the transportation of goods and services all around the world. Solar powered energy is energy from the sun. This energy can be conerted into different energy like heat and electricity. Heat can be used to heat water or heat spaces, for example heating for houses, buildings or even swimming pools. Solar energy can be converted in two ways, by Photovoltaic or “solar cells” which change sunlight directly into electricity or by concentrating solar power plants which generate electricity by using heat from solar thermal collectors. Coal powered energy has played an important role in the advancement of civilization and will continue to be a major fuel source for at least the next quarter century. It is used primarly to produce electricty and heat through a dirty process which involves mining and combustion of the fuel. The two most common types of coal mining used today are surface mining and underground mining. In the long run, solar energy has greater potential than coal powered energy.…

    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Since the industrial revolution, our energy consumption has risen unceasingly. The majority of this energy consumption is supplied by the fossil fuels like coal or natural gas.…

    • 119 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The world is an unpredictable tasmanian controlled by the actions of predictable careless beings. Today society is comprised of dependent humans that rely heavily on the manufacture and use of fossil fuels. Without these precious materials many functions of everyday life would cease to exist. And with the abundance of fossil fuels depleting by the second due to drilling, mining, and extracting, the world is slowly slipping into a hole it might not be able to get out of. If the pursuit of energy continues in the direction it is going, more and more problems will arise and inhibit the everyday lives of society while increasing the risk of major disasters inflicted by big energy companies.…

    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Through out the history of the United states the main source of energy has been conventional Oil, Coal, and gas energy, or better known as Conventional petroleum energy. However as the demand for electricity sky rockets the pollution produced from the traditional fossil fuel burning plants is reaching dangerous levels. Gas, coal and oil burning power plants are as of now responsible for half of America’s air pollution (tripod/online). Not to mention fossil fuels are the greatest contributors to global warming in today’s society.…

    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In 1977, the President of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter, advocated for the use of alternative energy to the American people “because we are now running out of gas and oil, we must prepare quickly to strict conservation [of fossil fuels] and to the use of coal and permanent renewable energy sources, like solar power.” More than thirty years later his announcement still rings true and is relevant. In fact, the current situation of non-renewable fuels is worse than in 1977. This is because American and global society is becoming more mobile and active, which is causing fossil fuels to be diminished at a higher rate than ever. Scientific discovery like the innovation of steam power and river power in the nineteenth century was a catalyst for meeting energy needs. Almost two hundred years later, the time to update energy solutions has arrived. Even though people disagree, alternative energy is the correct solution to the problem of diminishing fossil fuels. Therefore it is imperative that alternative energy be used more often than non-renewable resources due to their renewability, benefits to the environment and humankind, and its ability to stimulate the economy with an independent energy market.…

    • 1618 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    America runs on fossil fuels. Automobiles, trains, airplanes and most, or all, transportation methods depend on these fossil fuels. Electric power is also derived, primarily, from fossil fuels. Americans derive 39% of their power from coal, 27% from natural gas and 19% from nuclear power (“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis”). However, fossil fuels are quickly running out, as they are a nonrenewable resource. Scientists predict coal resources will run out in 110 years, oil in 53 years and natural gas in 54 years. While a century to half a century seems like a long time, these resources are, in actuality, quickly being depleted and, in a few generations, may be obsolete. While fossils fuels are technically renewable, it would be millions of years before this energy source would be completely restored and harvestable (“How Long Will Fossil Fuels Last?”).…

    • 826 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    B.Com Part-1

    • 3087 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Energy is the foundation of industrialized world; without energy, life as we know it would cease to exist. The yearly energy and fuel consumption rates have risen dramatically within the last years. This phenomenon is a direct result of globalization pressures, the international information network we call the Internet, and a population that seems to be hitting the dangerous upswing of the Malthusian curve. Although there is not yet a current shortage of conventional fuels, such as reserves of coal, oil and other fossil fuels are limited and non-renewable. In addition, the common practice of burning oil, coal, and other assorted hydrocarbons has resulted in hazardous environmental conditions such as global warming, acid rain and dangerously high air pollution levels. This and other environmental disasters have brought about a demand for alternative fuel and energy sources that are convenient, environmentally friendly, and economically viable. The U.S. Department of Energy defines alternative fuel as fuel that is essentially non-petroleum and yields energy security and environmental benefits. Following are some of the fuels the Department of Energy currently recognizes as alternative fuels methanol, hydrogen, liquid and compressed natural gas, and electric fuel. Alternative sources of energy are classified as energy provided from sources other than fossil fuels. This includes but is not limited to nuclear power, solar power, hydropower and biomass. Currently, many of these alternate sources are in use, but unfortunately they are underused or underdeveloped because of perceived shortcomings or drawbacks. While some of these fuel and energy sources may indeed lack the efficiency or cost effectiveness of the conventional fuel and energy, having a clean living planet far outweighs the cost of clean energy.…

    • 3087 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fossil fuels are being used up at a faster rate than they can regenerate. The British Petroleum report provides alarming figures. At the current rate of consumption, the coal reserves on Earth will be spent within 110 years. Global reserves of oil and natural gas are even lower, and will be spent within the next fifty years respectively. Despite these statistics suggest that fossil fuels are a reliable long-term energy source, these numbers are misleading. Due to global population and energy needs are steadily increasing, it is only natural that the consumption rates of fossil fuels will rise accordingly. This means that the projected time frames of the availability of fossil fuels will shrink exponentially.…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    An issue the whole world faces today is the reliance on fossil fuels as an energy source. These fossil fuels include coal, natural gas, and most importantly, petroleum. While petroleum and coal are in fact biologically based, they are using condensed, stored energy that has been building up over millions of years. This energy is not considered renewable because of the time it takes for the energy to build up. Once it is gone, it will be millions of years before this condensed energy is in supply again (Braude 2005). Most renewable sources are products of solar energy, photosynthesis being the solar process that powers plant-based renewable power. The problem with fossil fuels is that they do not use active photosynthetic energy, which is renewable or endless. It is said that petroleum is going to run out soon if consumers continue to use it at the rate they are. It would be more accurate to say that petroleum is going to become harder to find.…

    • 1995 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rocks and Minerals

    • 367 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Energy is necessary for daily survival. Many forecasts of recoverable oil reserves and resources suggest that oil production will level off by the early decades of the next century and then gradually fall during a period of reduced supplies and higher prices. Gas supplies should last over 200 years and coal about 3.000 years at present rates of use. Future development crucially depends on its long-term availability in increasing quantities from sources that are dependable, safe, and environmentally sound. At present, no single source or mix of sources is at hand to meet this future need. The energy to provide heat for warmth, cooking, and manufacturing, or power for transport and mechanical work services…

    • 367 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Forms of Energy

    • 1666 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Energy is an important part of our everyday lives. Energy can come in many different types, and forms it can be used for many different purposes. Energy has many different usages and can be converted from one form of usage to another form of usage depending on what the need is. One form of energy conversion is the use of food to supply people 's bodies with energy. Another form of energy is how coal is converted into electricity. Fuel is another form of energy that can be used for many different usages as well. Fuel is used for much different reason such as allowing our cars to function and our lawnmowers to cut grass. There are many different reasons why people use energy in the many different ways that we use it. Even though people rely on energy usage, some of the forms of energy we use are very harmful to the environment and even dangerous to ourselves. The harmful and dangerous fuels that we use can be changed to alternative methods of energy usage. There are two different types of alternative energy, which is known as renewable energy. Renewable energy is very resourceful and is able to be used because it is all around us there will not be a shortage of material and it is safer on every living thing and being. Energy and fuel usage just like everything else in the world has its advantages and disadvantages about using it. We must collectivity figure out which source of energy is right for everyone but for now we will find out which is best to use in your area.…

    • 1666 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Alternate energy is renewable and environmental friendly. It is clean and emits little to no greenhouse gas compared to natural resources (www.doe.gov). People do not understand the limitations of fossil fuels. Someday they will run out but wind, water current, and the sun will not run out before fossil fuels do. There are many renewable resources available so not only one source will be over used.…

    • 658 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Solar energy is of the most resourceful sources of alternative energy. It is the most important of the non-conventional sources of energy, because it does not pollute the earth. "One of the reasons for this is that the total energy we receive each year from the sun is around 35,000 times the total energy used by man." (Alternative energy sources) Solar energy can be converted directly or indirectly into alternative forms of energy. People use solar energy for many things, but most of it is used for heating, cooling, transportation and the generation of electricity. When the sun 's rays are…

    • 1147 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays