Fossil Fuels

by Elizabeth (CPP Member)

Posted on July 14, 2016

What are fossil fuels?

The United States gets 86% of its energy from fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels were formed hundreds of millions of years ago in the Carboniferous Period. Vegetation such as trees and plants sank to the bottom of bodies of water and made peat (a spongey substance). The peat then got covered with sand and formed sedimentary rock. As thousands of years passed, the rock was compressed. As a result, coal, oil, petroleum, and natural gas were formed.

Why are fossil fuels a problem?

"We cannot safely burn even half of global fossil-fuel reserves without dangerously warming the planet for several thousand years."

Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide and other gases that trap heat in Earth's atmosphere, causing a global increase in climate.

The burning of fossil fuels in the last 150 years has increased Earth's levels of carbon dioxide by 25%.

Thermal pollution in lakes and streams can also result. This can cause the abnormal increase or decrease of species living in these waters.

What can you do to help?

-Reduce your hot water use

-Turn off appliances when you're not using them

-Use fluorescent light bulbs

-Drive less to reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere

-Weatherproof your home to reduce heat loss and energy use

-Move your thermostat two degrees down in the winter and two degrees up in the summer to eliminate 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere per year

-Plant trees and vegetation to increase oxygen levels

-Reuse and recycle