The dependency on fossil fuel is an energy alternative that will prove beneficial for economically advanced countries. There has been the call to have lessening of fossil dependency as it has direct links between the individual countries and their economic status. Of great importance is the need to have alternative sources of energy, because fossil fuel will come to depletion after some time. This is where sustainable source of energy would be useful because they last longer than any other source of energy. The use of fossil fuels will continue to deplete natural resources on the face of the earth. There should be funding into research that will come up with new ways of saving on energy so that the over-reliance on fossil fuel will be eliminated. This paper will focus on the ways that the United States will reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
The United States is presently relying on fossil fuels to meet her energy requirement. It uses coal for most of its electricity requirement. Moreover, the transport system in the United States heavily depends on petroleum, which contributes to more than a fifth of global warming pollution (Johnstone, Haščič, & Popp, 2010). In addition, it threatens the economic prosperity leading to states insecurity. The United States uses more than a billion dollars daily on importing oil. There are disadvantages that come with the use of fossil fuel in an economy. In addition to global warming, the use of fossil fuels for transportation and generation of electricity destroys the wild life, cause health problems, and releases toxic-like arsenic and mercury into the community (Bull 2011). This study tries to explore on various ways that can be used in the United States to reduce over dependency on fossil fuel through innovative technology and development of clean and renewable energy.
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Significance of the problem
Significance of reducing fossil fuel dependency
Reducing reliance of fossil fuels is a key challenge for most first world countries since there is a direct relationship between the economic state and fossil fuel usage. One critical reason driving the increased demand for fossil fuel reliance reduction is the notion that there is a future expectation of depletion. This will make sustainable energies such as solar, hydroelectricity and others to take over since they are sustainable and clean.
There exist some ways in which the United States needs to implement to reduce dependency on fossil fuel. A key method is replacing the automobile construction technologies which are a key contributor to air pollution. Experts are suggesting that there is need to replace the fuel engine with electric batteries in cars. The chief reason for this suggestion is that battery-driven cars significantly lowers the reliance of fossil fuels by more than 50% (Turner, 2009).
Experts from various oil firms have given instruction to people to replace fossil fuels with alternative fuels such as use of diesel in automobiles, converting lawns to organic gardens, use of solar energy use of firewood for heating, use of nuclear energy, wind power, geothermal energy, solar cells and application of telecommunications in the professional life.
Recommendation on the ways of reducing fossil fuel use
Energy conservation
There are various simple things that people, at individual level, can do to reduce consumption of energy as a way of reducing use of fossil fuel (Turner, 2009). This is a way of reducing dependency since the small energy consumed by every individual accumulatively creates an impact on the national amount of energy consumed. Some of the ways of conserving energy include switching off lights and any switch when there is nobody in the room, running air conditioners only when needed in the house, replacement of high energy light bulbs with more efficient energy servers and long lasting fluorescent tubes (Johnstone, Hašči & Popp 2010). In addition, we should ensure that our residential possess modern efficient heating and cooling insulators and low energy rating consumer appliances like LCD TV, Energy efficient fridges, and home music systems. Also, the government should devise new ways of rating domestic energy conservation and rewarding the best conservatives (Turner, 2009). This can be achieved by introducing energy star label which are awarded to companies or manufacturers of products which lowers the total amount of energy consumed and displaying a calculated annual saving as a fraction of the national consumer information.
Reuse of materials
According to the environment protection agency, approximately 75 percent waste in America can be recycled (Turner, 2009). Everyone can assist in lowering the dependency on fossil fuels by ensuring that all the recyclable waste is reused rather than being taken to landfills. When you have products that you feel they are no longer fit for your consumption such as lights, clothing and microwaves, donate them to other who still need them and in the long run, you have contributed to reduction of reliance of fossil fuel (Turner, 2009). It is also advisable for every individual to take part in residential programs that gives trash pins for aluminum, paper, and plastics (Johnstone, Hašči & Popp 2010).
Product reuse
Most consumer products can be reused rather than discarding them. For instance, a fabric grocery shopping baskets can be used instead of plastic and paper bags. Cups and plates which are reusable can also be used to lower plastics and styrofoam needed for fossil fuel resources (Johnstone, Haščič, & Popp, 2010). When you are going for shopping, try buying post-consumer manufactured products which recycle-material made. In the technology field, practitioners would embrace practices which has refilling and reuse of computer and its peripheral parts such as printer cartridges and toners.
Live green
One of the most appropriate remedies to non-renewable fossil fuel depletion is the use of green technology. Going green implies to lifestyles which ensures that the current energy resources are preserved and sustained for future generations. Green living always entails finding a common ground between the natural surrounding and humans (Johnstone, Haščič, & Popp, 2010). This lifestyle concentrates on environment respect by ensuring the use of limited resources; it is where people only consume food and energy required for one to survive; reduction of municipal solid waste and taking part in recycling programs; using solar power as a form of green energy electricity; and joining hands in ensuring that the future generations will get high quality life (Johnstone, Haščič, & Popp, 2010). People can also live green lifestyle planning institution and lawmakers to build walkable neighborhood where cars are substituted by human interaction to reduce air pollution.
The United States needs to embark on ways that they can improve the rate that they depend on fossil fuel. It is critical to note that most methods that can be used to reduce consumption of energy accumulatively are a major contributor to the same. In addition, the country can also develop a well-developed renewable energy generating infrastructure by partnering with private sector partners in drawing a vivid guideline to producing renewable energy and migrating to green technology for the purposes of environmental safety. The government should put more effort in ensuring that there is a properly-drafted development and transition to use of renewable energy (Turner 2009). Taking innovation on perceived reverse salient is a situation of massive generality. According to Hughes, technological development and inventions are as a result of efforts for reverse saline’s correction (Johnstone, Haščič, & Popp, 2010). Though this is a vital way through which technological progress shapes technology, it does not imply that technology is shaped by technological progress alone.
References
Bull, S. R. (2011). Renewable energy today and tomorrow. Proceedings of the IEEE , 89 (8), 1216-1226.
Johnstone, N., Haščič, I., & Popp, D. (2010). Renewable energy policies and technological innovation: evidence based on patent counts. Environmental and resource economics , 45 (1), 133-155.
Turner, J. A. (2009). A realizable renewable energy future. Science , 285 (5428), 687-689.
