Brief Overview of the Problem with Fossil Fuels

Intro | Problems | Solutions

Intro

Fossil fuels are burned to produce energy used for transportation, electricity generation, heating, cooling, manufacturing, and many other applications.

The use of Fossil fuels contributes about 85% of the carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere.

Power plants contribute:

• 33% of total NOx emissions
• 70% of total SOx emissions
• 30% of total Mercury emissions

Energy Problems

Climate Change

The burning of coal, oil, and natural gas (fossil fuels) are altering the composition of the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.

These activities have led to increased concentration of a number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere including carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) predicts the average global temperature will increase 1.6? to 6.3? Fahrenheit by 2100. While it may not sound like a lot, a change at this rate would be greater than what has occurred over the past 10,000 years!!

As a result of global warming, sea level is expected to rise by about 6 to 37 inches by the year 2100 due to the melting of glacial ice.

Other effects may also include extreme weather events such as an increase in heavy rains and droughts. Changing regional climate could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies. It could also threaten many types of ecosystems, human health, birds, and fish.

Acid Rain

Acid rain is rain that is more acidic than normal. Caused by air pollution, acid rain's spread and damage involves weather, chemistry, soil, and the life cycles of plants and animals on the land and contamination of water systems.

Scientists have discovered that air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels is the major cause of acid rain. The smoke and fumes from burning fossil fuels rise into the atmosphere and combine with the moisture in the air to form acid rain.

Wind can carry these pollutants for hundreds of miles before they become joined with water droplets to form acid rain. for that reason, acid rain can also be a problem in areas far from the polluting smokestacks.

Acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our nation's cultural heritage.

As acid rain moves through the soils, it can strip away vital plant nutrients through chemical reactions, thus posing a potential threat to future forest productivity.

Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of tress at high elevations, such as red spruce trees above 2,000 feet in elevation.

Smog and Air Pollution

Sulfur dioxide emissions lead to the formation of sulfate particles in the atmosphere. Sulfate particles account for more than 50 percent of the visibility reduction in the eastern part of the United States, affecting our enjoyment of national parks such as the Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains.

The electric industry is the largest industrial source of smog-forming nitrogen oxide in the nation.

Smog is causing a public health crisis, impacting people in every state in the nation.

At least 117 million people live in areas where it is unsafe to breathe the air due to ozone pollution or smog.

A recent study estimated that smog pollution in the summer of 1997 was responsible for more than 6 million asthma attacks, 159,000 emergency room visits, and 53,000 hospitalizations.

Scientists estimate that at least 40,000 people die prematurely each year in this country due to fine particulate air pollution or soot.

Solutions: 20 Simple Steps to Reduce Global Warming

Whenever you save energy—or use it more efficiently—you reduce the demand for gasoline, oil, coal, and natural gas. Less burning of these fossil fuels means lower emissions of carbon dioxide, the major contributor to global warming. Right now the U.S. releases about 40,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per person each year. If we can reduce energy use enough to lower greenhouse gas emissions by about 2% a year, in ten years we will "lose" about 7000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per person.

Here are 20 simple steps that can help cut your annual emissions of carbon dioxide by thousands of pounds. The carbon dioxide reduction shown for each action is an average saving.

 

 

HOME APPLIANCES

Run your dishwasher only with a full load. Use the energy-saving setting to dry the dishes. Don't use heat when drying.
Carbon dioxide reduction: 200 pounds a year.

Wash clothes in warm or cold water, not hot.
Carbon dioxide reduction (for two loads a week): up to 500 pounds a year.

Turn down your water heater thermostat; 120 degrees is usually hot enough.
Carbon dioxide reduction (for each 10- degree adjustment): 500 pounds a year.

HOME HEATING AND COOLING

Don't overheat or overcool rooms. Adjust your thermostat (lower in winter, higher in summer).
Carbon dioxide reduction (for each 2-degree adjustment): about 500 pounds a year.

Clean or replace air filters as recommended. Cleaning a dirty air conditioner filter can save 5% of the energy used.
Carbon dioxide reduction: About 175 pounds a year.

SMALL INVESTMENTS THAT PAY OFF

Buy energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs for your most-used lights.
Carbon dioxide reduction (by replacing one frequently used bulb): about 500 pounds a year.

Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket.
Carbon dioxide reduction: Up to 1000 pounds a year.

Install low-flow shower heads to use less hot water.
Carbon dioxide reduction: Up to 300 pounds a year.

Caulk and weatherstrip around doors and windows to plug air leaks.
Carbon dioxide reduction: Up to 1000 pounds a year.

Ask your utility company for a home energy audit to find out where your home is poorly insulated or energy-inefficient.
Carbon dioxide reduction: Potentially, thousands of pounds a year.

 

GETTING AROUND

Whenever possible, walk, bike, carpool or use mass transit.
Carbon dioxide reduction (for every gallon of gasoline you save): 20 pounds.

When you buy a car, choose one that gets good gas mileage.
Carbon dioxide reduction (if your new car gets 10 mpg more than your old one): about 2500 pounds a year.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Reduce waste: Buy minimally packaged goods; choose reusable products over disposable ones; recycle.
Carbon dioxide reduction (if you cut down your garbage by 25%): 1000 pounds a year.

If your car has an air conditioner, make sure its coolant is recycled whenever you have it serviced.
Equivalent carbon dioxide reduction: Thousands of pounds.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Insulate your walls and ceilings; this can save about 25% of home heating bills.
Carbon dioxide reduction: Up to 2000 pounds a year.

If you need to replace your windows, install the best energy-saving models.
Carbon dioxide reduction: Up to 10,000 pounds a year.

Plant trees next to your home and paint your home a light color if you live in a warm climate, or a dark color in a cold climate.
Carbon dioxide reduction: About 5000 pounds a year.

As you replace home appliances, select the most energy-efficient models.
Carbon dioxide reduction (if you replace your old refrigerator with an efficient model): 3000 pounds a year.

SCHOOLS, BUSINESS, AND COMMUNITIES

Reduce waste and promote energy-efficient measures at your school or workplace. Work in your community to set up recycling programs.
Carbon dioxide reduction (for every pound of office paper recycled): 4 pounds.

Be informed about environmental issues. Keep track of candidates' voting records and write or call to express concerns.
Carbon dioxide reduction (if we vote to raise U.S. auto fuel efficiency): Billions of pounds.

© 1997 Environmental Defense (www.environmentaldefense.org)
257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010

For more energy saving tips, visit the Generation Green section of our website.

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