HUMAN FOSSIL FUEL USE

Fossil Fuels and Our Carbon Footprint

Fossil Fuels

Dead dinosaurs and plants rot “stored sunlight”

Takes millions of years to make NOT renewable

Three major fossil fuels: Coal (solid) Oil, aka, petroleum (liquid) Natural gas (gas, can be liquified)

Energy from Fossil Fuels

Burning FF’s is very exothermic Produces a lot of heat

Coal is used in power plants Youtube video

Petroleum products are good for transportation

Nat’l gas is used to heat homes

Misc

FF’s produce about 75% of our energy! Cheaply Change in policy has HUGE economic effects

Petroleum is a crucial plastics precursor

Natural gas use is on the rise U.S. independence on foreign petroleum supplies “Fracking” issues

Drilling and mining issues Pollution Dangers

Relationship to GW

FF’s produce heat during combustion

CH4 + O2 CO2 + H2O Burning 1 gallon of gasoline approx. 20 lbs of CO2

CO2 is a known greenhouse gas Greenhouse Effect is not controversial

Greenhouse gases may contribute to Climate Change Aka, Global Warming

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Fossil Fuels

Advantages: Relatively abundant Inexpensive Cost-effective/efficient High energy release

through burning fossil fuels

Disadvantages Pollution (global

warming contributor?) Potential for danger

(explosions, mining accidents, oil spills)

Environmental effects Non-renewable

Interesting Facts

To run a single 100 Watt light bulb 24 hrs/day for a year it takes 325 kg (714 lbs) of coal!

1 L gasoline = 23.5 tons of rotted dinosaur 1 gallon = approx 4 liters

Ways to reduce our carbon footprint

Reduce, reuse, recycleUse less heat and air conditioningChange light bulbs (replace incandescent bulbs

w/compact fluorescent bulbs which use 2/3 less energy, give off less heat, and last 10x longer)

Drive less, drive smart – inflate tires, change oilBuy energy efficient productsUse less hot waterUse the off switchPlant a treeOthers!