Fossil Fuel Dependency
Dependency of Fossil Fuels
The flip of a switch, turn of a key, or the press of a button is all it takes to power up almost everything today. One simple motion holds the key to our future and unlocks our past, but at what price? With sources that were once thought to be endless, energy consumption and its byproducts has now become a front runner among debates. A far sight from the campfire and miles away from its full potential what does tomorrow hold for energy consumption and its effect on the planet? Energy is essential for all life. Over the past millennia mankind has found new ways to harness and exploit that energy, starting with the use of animals and later through inventions that tapped the power of wind and water. …show more content…
Beginning in 2011 the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration will raise the average requirement on fuel economy for cars and light duty trucks to a standard of 35 miles per gallon has been reached, no later than 2025. This act will save the U.S. around 2 million barrels of oil per day and cut the carbon footprint of American vehicles by 192 million metric tons annually, the equivalent of removing 28 million cars off the U.S. roadways. The bill also called for an increase in the production of bio-fuels, a renewable fuel source for U.S. gasoline. Currently the U.S. produces annually 9 billion gallons of renewable bio-fuels. The increase will push that number to 36 billion gallons by 2022, equivalent to replacing another million barrels of oil per day. For the first time in American history the bill outlines an energy efficiency standard. New technology light bulbs will replace the incandescent bulb of yesteryear, reducing the energy usage by 30 percent in all light bulbs by 2012. This increase of efficiency is equivalent to shutting down 24 coal plants. In addition to light bulbs all new appliances will have to meet stricter energy use standards. This encouragement can be seen nowadays with energy star …show more content…
and Page, D. (2005). Electricity from Renewable Energy. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.energyforkeeps.org
Carbon Footprint Ltd. (2008). Reducing your impact. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.carbonfootprint.com
Energy Information Administration. (2007). International Energy Outlook 2007: Forecasts and Analysis. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.evedeia.doe.gov/oiaf/forecasting.html
General Electric. (2008). Innovation. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.ge.com/innovation/index.html
National Geographic News. (2007). Global Warming Fast Facts. Retrieved February 14th, 2008 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html
Roach, J. (2007). Global Warming "Very Likely" Caused by Humans World Climate Experts Say. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070202-global-warming.html
United States Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources. (2007). The Energy Independence and Security Act Key Facts. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from
The flip of a switch, turn of a key, or the press of a button is all it takes to power up almost everything today. One simple motion holds the key to our future and unlocks our past, but at what price? With sources that were once thought to be endless, energy consumption and its byproducts has now become a front runner among debates. A far sight from the campfire and miles away from its full potential what does tomorrow hold for energy consumption and its effect on the planet? Energy is essential for all life. Over the past millennia mankind has found new ways to harness and exploit that energy, starting with the use of animals and later through inventions that tapped the power of wind and water. …show more content…
Beginning in 2011 the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration will raise the average requirement on fuel economy for cars and light duty trucks to a standard of 35 miles per gallon has been reached, no later than 2025. This act will save the U.S. around 2 million barrels of oil per day and cut the carbon footprint of American vehicles by 192 million metric tons annually, the equivalent of removing 28 million cars off the U.S. roadways. The bill also called for an increase in the production of bio-fuels, a renewable fuel source for U.S. gasoline. Currently the U.S. produces annually 9 billion gallons of renewable bio-fuels. The increase will push that number to 36 billion gallons by 2022, equivalent to replacing another million barrels of oil per day. For the first time in American history the bill outlines an energy efficiency standard. New technology light bulbs will replace the incandescent bulb of yesteryear, reducing the energy usage by 30 percent in all light bulbs by 2012. This increase of efficiency is equivalent to shutting down 24 coal plants. In addition to light bulbs all new appliances will have to meet stricter energy use standards. This encouragement can be seen nowadays with energy star …show more content…
and Page, D. (2005). Electricity from Renewable Energy. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.energyforkeeps.org
Carbon Footprint Ltd. (2008). Reducing your impact. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.carbonfootprint.com
Energy Information Administration. (2007). International Energy Outlook 2007: Forecasts and Analysis. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.evedeia.doe.gov/oiaf/forecasting.html
General Electric. (2008). Innovation. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.ge.com/innovation/index.html
National Geographic News. (2007). Global Warming Fast Facts. Retrieved February 14th, 2008 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html
Roach, J. (2007). Global Warming "Very Likely" Caused by Humans World Climate Experts Say. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070202-global-warming.html
United States Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources. (2007). The Energy Independence and Security Act Key Facts. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from