Fossil Fuels and the Need for Energy Efficiency
Posted on: 10 August 2015
Fossil fuels power many of the items we use every day. Coal and natural gas have aged for millions of years and can be used today to power your vehicle or to heat your home. This guide explains the ways that the fossil fuels you use develop and how they produce energy so you can understand why energy efficiency is important for your home.
Fossil Fuels Take Millions of Years to Develop
It's true that fossil fuels take millions of years to be made, and the ones used today date back to the Carboniferous Period, well before dinosaurs were ever on the planet. Fossil fuels are formed with intense heat and pressure from the very earth itself. It takes time to create this fuel, so once it's used, it's essentially never going to be replenished for many lifetimes to come. That's why it's called a nonrenewable resource and why making changes, like installing energy-efficient appliances, can help reduce fuel waste.
Some appliances that are now able to be replaced with energy-efficient models include
- Washers
- Driers
- Dishwashers
- Refrigerators
- Ovens
You can also consider using energy-efficient lighting or using solar power to help power your home to reduce your use of fossil fuels.
Fossil Fuels Power Nearly Everything
Fossil fuels aren't just powering heaters and cars. Twenty-eight percent of the energy we use in our homes and businesses is provided by coal power and 40 percent comes from oil. Because it's so necessary to use fossil fuels in today's society, your oil or natural gas provider will harvest these fuels and then extract the parts that can be used.
What this information, you can also see that if there is a fuel shortage due to fossil fuels running low, it could cause energy shortages around the country. To help eliminate that risk, alternative methods of powering homes and vehicles are being explored, like wind, water, or solar energy.
Fossil Fuels Are More than Oil and Natural Gas
Fossil fuels you may already know of include propane, kerosene, coal, natural gas, petroleum, and methane. You use these fuels nearly every day. For instance, coal or gas can be used to make electricity, propane or kerosene can fuel a gas grill, and petroleum can be used to fuel a car or truck.
These devices are luxuries in society, and with the right changes, they can be used for years to come. For example, switching to a hybrid car to use less gasoline can help reduce the use of fossil fuels while also helping the environment.
Fossil fuels are part of your everyday life, and it's important that they're used efficiently to reduce waste. Try some energy-saving methods to help keep the world powered longer. For more information about how oil and other types of fuel are used and how you can lower your energy consumption, contact a representative from Small & Sons Oil Dist Co.
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