Recently we looked at the problems caused by burning fossil fuels and the issues that carbon emission can have on the atmosphere. To briefly recap fossil fuels are the decayed carbon-rich remains of ancient living organisms, buried underground. When fossil fuels are burned the carbon reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and this process releases the energy stored in the fuel. The energy is useful but the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere traps thermal radiation, increasing the temperature of the Earth, which is known as global warming.
Burning fossil fuels is a very efficient way of producing useful energy. The majority of the energy we use to light and warm our homes, power our electrical equipment and transport not only ourselves but the products we use & consume come from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels can be burned directly to produce mechanical energy (for example putting petrol in a car to make it move) or can be used in a power station to convert the chemical energy in the fossil fuel to electrical energy. Fossil fuels will not last forever, they take millions of years to form and yet in a couple of hundred years humans have used a significant percentage. They are known as “non-renewable” fuels, when they are gone they are, well, pretty much gone.
As well as the problem of global warming fossil fuels also create other environmental problems. Oil spills can cause a variety of issues: killing marine and coastal plants and animals, destroying ecosystems, and ruining beaches.
However fossil fuels are far from being the energy source on this planet. The planet has abundant sources of natural energy that will not run out, coming from a variety of different sources.
Every day the Earth receives more energy from the Sun than we obtain from burning fossil fuels in an entire year. The energy comes in the form of Solar Radiation, which we can see as sunlight and feel as heat. The gravitational attraction of the Moon on the Earth raises tides producing tidal energy that can move turbines creating electricity. The internal heat of the Earth can be used to warm water powering power stations, this is called geothermal energy.
Not only is this energy abundant but it is free, unlimited and will not run out for billions of years. It is given the name renewable energy. What’s more it does not involve burning fossil fuels so no carbon dioxide is emitted when we harness it, making renewable energy something scientists call “carbon neutral”.
Although at the moment renewable energy production can be expensive it is becoming an increasingly attractive option, both economically and environmentally. As fossil fuels run out and become scarce increased demand will push up the price, making renewable energy an increasingly cost effective option. As fossil fuels will run out in the not too distant future the switch to renewable energy is ultimately inevitable. Switching to renewable energy sooner rather than later could put the UK ahead of the curve, exporting technology to provide a boost for the science and technologies industries creating a green economy. The EU which is itself a net importer of energy could instead use its technological expertise to develop clean energy production and become a net exporter of green energy and carbon neutral energy technology.
Citizens in the UK who want to support renewable energy can now switch to green energy in their homes by changing energy suppliers or choosing green options from their existing supplier.
However the simplest and cheapest way to save fossil fuels from being burning is by simply reducing energy expenditure. In the UK a huge amount of energy is wasted by leaving electrical equipment on overnight, having insufficient thermal insulation in the home requiring increased energy usage warming the home and running old inefficient heating systems. Improving energy efficiency is one of the easiest ways to save carbon and the environment and can also reduce bills, saving the consumer money.
[1] New York Times
