Fossil Fuels And Electricity Consumption
1:42 AM // 0 comments // sb blogger // Category: Electricity Consumption , fossil fuels , Fuel //By Roger Vanderlely
The use of fossil fuels is a major point of concern and will continue to be so for a good deal of time to come. Why is there so much concern about this issue, 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.
So what is all the concern about? We have been burning coal and oil for centuries so how is it that it has become a global problem now?
The reasons are population and lifestyle. In less than 80 years the human population has swelled from around two billion to over six billion. At the same time technology has advanced steadily so that now almost all the devices we use require electricity. Add to this the fuel cost of personal transport and the size of the energy bill starts to become 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.
These power plants generate electricity by boiling water to make steam, and the steam is used to turn huge turbines. The turning of the turbines rotates enormous coils of copper wire inside equally huge magnets, and it is this that generates the electricity. That electricity is then transported to our homes through power lines and substations. Burning the fuel produces among other things carbon dioxide. This is a greenhouse gas, meaning that it acts to trap heat in the atmosphere.
There are many electrical devices we use on a daily basis such as televisions, computers, MP3 players, mobile phones, heaters, air conditioners and so on. If we multiply the amount of energy we use on any given day by the number of people living a similar lifestyle, we can start to understand the scale of our energy use.
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.
Buying electricity from a green energy provider is another way we can make a difference. Unfortunately these alternatives are still 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.
The wholesale use of fossil fuels is something we can have a personal impact on. By reducing our energy use and learning more about these fuels and how they influence our lives we can be better informed and have a more positive impact on the planet. - 39468
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.
So what is all the concern about? We have been burning coal and oil for centuries so how is it that it has become a global problem now?
The reasons are population and lifestyle. In less than 80 years the human population has swelled from around two billion to over six billion. At the same time technology has advanced steadily so that now almost all the devices we use require electricity. Add to this the fuel cost of personal transport and the size of the energy bill starts to become 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.
These power plants generate electricity by boiling water to make steam, and the steam is used to turn huge turbines. The turning of the turbines rotates enormous coils of copper wire inside equally huge magnets, and it is this that generates the electricity. That electricity is then transported to our homes through power lines and substations. Burning the fuel produces among other things carbon dioxide. This is a greenhouse gas, meaning that it acts to trap heat in the atmosphere.
There are many electrical devices we use on a daily basis such as televisions, computers, MP3 players, mobile phones, heaters, air conditioners and so on. If we multiply the amount of energy we use on any given day by the number of people living a similar lifestyle, we can start to understand the scale of our energy use.
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.
Buying electricity from a green energy provider is another way we can make a difference. Unfortunately these alternatives are still 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.
The wholesale use of fossil fuels is something we can have a personal impact on. By reducing our energy use and learning more about these fuels and how they influence our lives we can be better informed and have a more positive impact on the planet. - 39468
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Want to find out more about fossil fuels, then visit Roger Vanderlely's site on solar power facts for a comprehensive discussion of the topic.
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