Uses and Harms of Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels, which seem to be the indispensable energy source of the modern world; It has penetrated almost every aspect of life, from transportation to industry, from electricity to heating. However, the long-term effects of these energy reserves have become a topic of global debate. Although fossil fuels have significantly improved and facilitated modern life, there are environmental and social costs that the whole world has made and will continue to pay in the future.
What Are Fossil Fuels and What Are Their Types?
It uses two different energy sources, non-renewable energies, and renewable energies, to meet its energy needs. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and wave energies. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are in the group of non-renewable energy sources. Because fossil fuels used in energy production take millions of years to regenerate.
Fossil fuels, also known as carbon fuels, consist of fossilized buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. In this process, plant and animal remains, exposed to high heat and pressure, turn into organic matter rich in hydrocarbons and carbon.
Fossil fuels, classified as natural gas, coal and oil, are an exceptionally large part of the world’s energy production. Coal accounts for 70% of the world’s fossil fuel reserves, while oil and natural gas are found in smaller quantities.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel formed by the chemical decomposition of organic matter residues that remain underground for a long time. Natural gas, whose main component is methane gas with a rate of 95%, also contains different gases such as ethane, propane, and butane. Natural gas, which can be easily transported by pipelines or pressure tanks, is used as a raw material in electricity generation, heating, and industry.
Due to its structure, the combustion efficiency of natural gas is high. Thanks to its low carbon content, it emits less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels. Therefore, it is possible to say that natural gas is the cleanest energy source among fossil fuels.
Oil
Oil is a liquid fossil fuel composed mostly of hydrocarbons (hydrogen and carbon compounds). In underground resorts; in cracks, crevices, and pores of sedimentary rocks; It can be found in tar sands near the earth’s surface. It is formed by the fossilization of animals and plants that remain under high pressure and temperature over millions of years. The oily substances that emerge at the end of this process turn into gas and oil under the sludge layers.
Oil, which can be extracted by techniques such as onshore and offshore drilling, is easily transported to refineries as it can be found in liquid form. It is distilled into different products needed in daily life, such as gasoline, jet fuel, propane, and kerosene. In addition to these, it can also be turned into products such as plastics and paints.
Coal
It is a substance that can be found in abundance on Earth. Coal is among the most preferred types of fossil fuels in the past and today due to its diversification and economical energy production. Coal, which has been used in energy production for centuries, is formed by plants that remain under high pressure for millions of years.
The main component of coal is carbon, but it can also contain varying amounts of hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. There are different types of coal, which can be extracted by mining (underground and strip mining) techniques, including anthracite, hard coal, lignite, and peat. The carbon content of these species is different from each other. However, all coals, regardless of the type, are the dirtiest fuels that can be used due to their carbon intensity.
What are the Uses of Fossil Fuels?
These non-renewable energy sources, which have become an integral part of life today, have a wide range of uses with the high energy efficiency they provide. The main uses of fossil fuels are as follows:
- Energy Production and Heating: Fossil fuels are one of the most important and economical resources that enable energy production worldwide. In addition, it is used to meet the heating needs in homes and other living spaces.
- Transportation: It is used for the fuel needs of cars, trucks, and airplanes in the form of petroleum, LPG, and diesel. In some motor vehicles, the use of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) or LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), which is an alternative fuel, is preferred.
- Chemical Products: These are raw materials commonly used in the production of chemical products such as fossil fuels, plastics, paints, fertilizers.
- Industrial Products: Fossil fuels are used in the production processes of materials such as Teflon, steel, copper, aluminum. They are also energy sources used in the manufacture of paper and cement, glass and ceramic workmanship, and the creation of process heat in the chemical industry.
- Personal Care Products: Chemicals derived from petroleum play an important role in the production and packaging of makeup products such as hair dye, lipstick, foundation, mascara. At the same time, these resources are used in the production processes of personal care products such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, and toothpaste, which are among our basic needs.
- Technology Products: Petroleum is a widely used material in the production of electronic products because it is both a heat-resistant material and a good insulator. Petroleum components are also used in the production of many products such as smartphones, computers, cameras, and televisions, which have become indispensable in daily life.
- Textile Products: Fibers such as nylon, polyester, spandex and textile products such as vegan leather are produced petroleum based. Petrochemicals are also used to increase the water resistance of shoes and wallets. Coal is one of the substances that is often used in the textile industry in similar ways.
- Sports Equipment: Some of the sports equipment such as golf and basketballs, tennis rackets, skis may also contain petroleum. Thus, the products have a lighter and harder structure.
Considering the limited reserves and negative environmental impacts of fossil fuels, which are needed in almost every aspect of modern life, it has become a necessity to reduce the dependence on these resources today. Increasing investments in sustainable resources is a critical issue to ensure the continuity of the amount of energy obtained from fossil fuels.
What are the Harms of Using Fossil Fuels?
It is now a well-known fact that fossil fuels emit intense amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. However, these energy sources do not only have an environmental impact. It also causes serious problems in terms of social, economic and health. It spreads to an extremely wide spectrum, from global warming to air pollution, from health problems to the destruction of ecosystems, creating irreversible effects in the short and long term.
We can detail some of the negative effects caused using fossil fuels as follows:
Global Warming
As a result of the use of fossil fuels, intense amounts of greenhouse gases are emitted. Greenhouse gases, which are gradually increasing and accumulating in the atmosphere, cause global warming by damaging the natural warming and cooling system of the planet. Global warming, on the other hand, brings with it serious environmental problems such as melting glaciers, rising sea levels, increasing rare weather events and many more. Climate change causes problems such as inefficiency of agricultural areas.
Land Disturbances
Significant deterioration occurs on the lands where fossil fuels are extracted and processed. These deteriorations damage ecosystems by destroying the natural habitats of living things. Oil wells and pipelines, for example, endanger the biodiversity in the regions where they are located. It harms wildlife and even after the work is completed, the area cannot return to its former state for many years. For this reason, fossil fuels cause great damage to the environment from their processes before they are even used.
Air Pollution
As a result of the combustion of fossil fuels, large amounts of harmful gases are emitted into the environment. As a result of this release, harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide begin to accumulate in the atmosphere. These cause air pollution over time. Transportation and industrial sectors, where fossil fuel use is widespread, seriously reduce air quality.
Health Problems
Air pollution is much more common in regions where coal is used extensively as an energy source. This situation causes respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis to be seen more in the local people. A 2018 study conducted in collaboration with Harvard University, the University of Birmingham, the University of Leicester, and University College London shows that 8 million people have lost their lives due to fossil fuel pollution. This number is extremely high when looking at previous research. The study reveals that air pollution from the use of fossil fuels is responsible for about 1 in 5 deaths worldwide.
Water Pollution
Processes such as the extraction and processing of fossil fuels severely pollute water resources. This has negative consequences on the water supply, including drinking water. Chemicals and waste materials generated during the extraction of fossil fuels mix with water, reducing water quality and causing great damage to ecosystems. These processes also threaten human health by making it difficult to use water in a safe and healthy way.
Acidification of the Oceans
When oil, coal, and natural gas are used, the basic chemistry of the ocean changes, making it more acidic. This is because the seas absorb a quarter of all carbon emissions generated because of human activities. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the oceans have become 30% more acidic. This has led to a decrease in the amount of calcium carbonate used by countless sea creatures such as oysters and lobsters.
Degradation of Ecosystems
Since the use of fossil fuels causes air, water, and soil pollution, it also negatively affects the habitats of plant and animal species. Petroleum is used in the production of some plastic products. This, in turn, increases environmental pollution and harms ecosystems. This also leads to an increasing number of wastes that do not disappear in nature for a long time.
Acid Rain
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere because of the combustion of fossil fuels combine with raindrops and fall to the earth as sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Acid rain causes great damage to many structures and areas, from forests to buildings.
Wars
Oil is the most valuable and widely used raw material among fossil fuels. After the Industrial Revolution, conflicts began to appear between countries to have oil resources. Wars access to energy resources have led to much greater environmental, economic, and social problems.
What Can Be Done to Reduce Fossil Fuel Use?
Understanding the harmful effects of fossil fuel use and turning to alternative energy sources is a vital necessity both to protect the environment and to leave a livable world to future generations. In this process, the steps that can be taken at the individual and social level are of great importance in terms of minimizing the effects of non-renewable energy sources and ensuring the continuity of energy.
The main measures that can be taken to reduce fossil fuel consumption are as follows:
Energy Saving: Attention can be paid to energy efficiency in living spaces. For example, the use of LED bulbs can be increased. LED bulbs consume an average of 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and can be used for a longer period. Even methods such as keeping unused electrical appliances turned off, turning off excess lights in the environment, and preferring the use of energy-labeled devices in accordance with high efficiency standards in homes are important steps to save energy.
Transportation: The steps to be taken by governments and the policies to be followed in energy saving related to transportation contribute to significant changes. Individuals can be directed to public transportation systems to reduce the number of vehicles on the streets. At the same time, fossil fuel consumption can be greatly reduced by expanding the use of electric vehicles.
Building Insulations: Well-insulated buildings allow us to save the energy required for heating.
Reusable Products: The use of products such as reusable fabric bags and thermoses instead of disposable paper or plastic products can be expanded.
Recycling: Fossil fuel consumption can be reduced by recycling waste. In addition, products made from recycled materials can be purchased to support the reduction of consumption of non-renewable energy sources.
Natural Fabrics: The use of clothes made of natural fibers can be expanded instead of fibers such as nylon or polyester, which use fossil fuel-based materials in production processes.
Renewable Energy Sources: The use of sustainable energy sources such as solar or wind energy instead of fossil fuels can be increased. For example, the need for fossil fuel consumption can be greatly reduced with solar panels and domestic wind turbines that can be installed on the roofs of homes and workplaces.
As QuickCarbon, we are aware of the damage caused by fossil fuels to the environment. For this reason, we offer a system that enables institutions to calculate and report their corporate carbon footprints according to the ISO 14064-1:2018 Standard and GHG Protocol without the need for any consultancy services. You can also act immediately and plan what you can do to support environmental sustainability in the light of the reports you have obtained.