The Human Addiction to Fossil Fuels - Converting to Green Energy Is Easier Said Than Done

The Human Addiction to Fossil Fuels:

Converting to Green Energy Is Easier Said Than Done

I chose this topic because I hope to pursue a career in a field dealing with the development of renewable energy. I also believe it is a prevalent issue that must be dealt with, or result in unfavorable consequences sooner than people think. This paper showed me that renewable energy is such a large issue that there a plethora of factors to take into account, and the complete conversion to renewable energy may take much more time and effort than people assume.

Exploitation of the earth's resources is inevitably leading to a worldwide power crisis. Energy deficiency is one of the issues on the forefront of the environmental movement. While energy shortages are not yet affecting people, studies show they are imminent if steps are not taken toward prevention. The human race is notoriously known for its ability to exploit resources. One of the most obvious showcases of this unique ability is the exhaustion of nonrenewable resources. This concept is relatively modern in the sense that human use of these resources has increased exponentially since the discovery of nonrenewable resources as major power generators. Although, the adverse environmental consequences caused by the use of nonrenewable resources is immediately affecting the people. Further progression of nonrenewable resource use also raises questions concerning sustainability of the current human environment. Alarmingly, research of their depletion and impact on the environment is an even newer concept. The recent knowledge has given birth to the novel idea of using the earth's natural forces as an efficient, renewable energy source on a large scale. While these green energy sources are environmentally friendly and prove to be a key factor in the modern energy crisis and sustaining our lifestyle, they are not used universally due to a combination of factors, including consumer awareness, availability of resources, and government policy.

Energy In Human History

Throughout human history, energy consumption has risen with population increase and new innovations. The earliest forms of energy were physical; comprised of human and animal labor. This energy type could not yet be consumed on a large scale, only used when needed. Wind and water wheels were the earliest developed mechanical innovations seen by humans, circa 10-70 CE (Armaroli, Balzani, 2010, p.28). These early forms of energy could not be stored and only performed simple tasks. From that point on, the human race only experienced further mechanization. As the industrial revolution came around, these new innovations were accepted with great success, and little knowledge as to the predicament that had begun. The progress of energy use can be tracked, as people moved from consuming wood, to coal, to steam, and finally to fossil fuels. Referring to fossil fuels, oil is the one word universally understood regarding resource depletion, although, it is not the only source of energy used. Some other renewable sources our species is consuming at a rate faster than can be replenished are petroleum, coal and many natural gases. As well as depleting the supply, their use has resulted in a large carbon footprint from a substantial amount of pollution and collection of greenhouse gases. The trend of consuming is to blame for the issue at hand. Economies around the world have utilized their resources to support consumers. Globally, economies either use fossil fuel energy to produce goods suited to the vast group of consumers, or consume energy with the products produced. One great example of this is the invention of the automobile. While the carbon footprint of automobile production is large, the footprint left by consumption during use is even bigger. The popularity of motor vehicles is one of the largest contributing factors to oil use and climate change. The effects of mass fossil fuel use could prove to be catastrophic if no measures are taken in inhibiting their consumption.

Future of Fossil Fuel Use

Scientists have predicted that the current rate of fossil fuel use, and its negative environmental contribution, could lead to an increase of average world temperature by 4 degrees Celsius. While it may seem like a small increase, the results could be catastrophic. Humans would not be able to sustain their modern living conditions. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would amplify greatly. Sea levels would rise as the melting of polar ice caps is observed. Destruction of habitats would be imminent; the Amazon rainforest alone is predicted to suffer a loss of area as high as 83 percent. Climate change could cause more and worse natural disasters, such as wildfires. Climate change could also prove disastrous for agricultural economies as the climates become too dry to properly raise crops. The sociological affect on humans may be even worse. Water scarcity and crop failure could lead to further problems, such as an unstable food source. Conditions would force people to leave their homes in search of better living, although no place would provide salvation (Honnery, Moriarty, 2011, p.209). Essentially, human life would become increasingly more difficult due to environmental circumstances. Humans have followed a natural cycle of progression with technology, but have begun to live outside of their means. They are consuming at such a large capacity that not only is it hurting the environment, but also the planet cannot yield the amount of resources for the large demand of products. Contrary to popular belief, humans are not exempt to natural law. Every species on our planet that has exploited its resources has ceased to exist. Luckily, this dystopian view is assuming that no steps in environmental mitigation would be taken from present time until then. This future is only one possibility out of many. Renewable energy development has already begun, and is being accredited with full potential of converting our power dependency to renewable sources.

Green Energy

The interest in renewable energy sources has grown greatly with our knowledge of the subject. Researchers have found that the sources are not only renewable, but also have less of a harmful impact on the environment, and arguably no negative affects whatsoever. The current global warming scare and drive for new clean and sustainable sources of energy fuel the green energy movement. Renewable energy is seen as a way to avoid the environmental consequences of using fossil fuels for energy. Renewable energy sources are capable of significantly lowering pollution levels, as well as lowering green house gas levels and slowing the inevitable global warming (Honnery, Moriarty, 2011, p.79). Many people commonly