Analysis Of Renewables Or Bust And Its Effects On Our...

Renewables or Bust Many American cities have experienced the phenomenon of smog or haze at one point or another. This smog has led the general population, political leaders, and scientists to ask the question, â€Å"What produces this haze and what are the impacts on our health and environment?† (Fischetti). The average amount of energy consumed per person has dramatically increased over the past several hundred years (Christensen, 482). The prevalence of fossil fuel use in our world is a primary cause of these hazy conditions as well as increased pollutants in the environment which has leads to increased illnesses in humans (Fischetti). The prevalent usage of these types of fuels are the leading cause of many environmental and economical†¦show more content†¦Fossil fuels are a finite resource with rapidly depleting supplies, so they are sometimes referred to as non-renewables. The usage of these fuels across the globe is broken down as follows; 33% for oil, 25% for c oal, and 21% for natural gas. The combined usage of these types of fuels totals 79% of human energy consumption worldwide. The United States accounts for 20% of global consumption of these fuels (Christensen, 483). Coal, for example, is primarily used to feed coal fired power plants that provide electricity to our homes. Oil can be refined into gasoline to power our vehicles and is used in plastics, lubricants, and household items. Natural gas is used to power vehicles and heat homes and even our barbecues, in the form of propane (What Are Fossil Fuels Used For?). These resources are used in almost all aspects of our lives, they however pose many risks and have a negative impact on our environment. The combustion of coal creates a variety of environmental problems. Gasses such as nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, and carbon dioxide are emitted from coal power plants and into the air and soil (Christensen, 490). These emissions are potent greenhouse gasses that erode Earth s protective ozone layer and are a contributing factor to climate change (EPA). The Environmental Protection Agency also states, â€Å"A warming climate will bring changes that can affect our water supplies, agriculture, power and