The USA's Efforts to Reduce Reliance on Fossil Fuels
The USA has always been on the front line when it comes to matters that touch on the safety of human beings (Shafiee \\\" Topal, 2008). America has been focusing and grinding hard in ensuring that alternative sources to fossil energy are achieved and make the world a better place for everyone. However, the war on the impact of fossil fuel use is broad, and it takes more than just one country to win the battle. Every region should be individually involved in the campaign if positive results are to be achieved. On its part, the USA has fronted numerous measures aimed at reducing its reliance on fossil fuel as a source of energy. Among the areas that much effort has been concentrated are electricity production and the transportation sector (Shafiee \\\" Topal, 2008).
The electricity produced in America mainly depends on the use of fossil fuels like coal, oil and other natural gases that are both costly and harmful. To acquire enough fossil fuel to produce sufficient electricity to its vast population and meet its demand, the united states have to import loads of raw fossil implying that excess damage will be done on countries where the fossil material is being mined, and the effect of burning fossil fuel will similarly be cascaded down to the environment. The use of fossil fuel is also at the heart of America\u2019s economy. Sectors like industrialization and transportation heavily rely on fossil for energy widening the risk associated with fossil fuel. Therefore, the use of fossil fuel is not just crucial to America, but it is also driving the most substantial portion of its economy. Being the most industrialized nation in the world, America cannot afford to reduce its fuel consumption as a measure to curb the effects of fossil fuel. Instead, the only viable means is to lessen its dependency on fossil fuel. To achieve this, the country needs to employ various techniques that will be discussed in this paper.
Problem statement and significance
Beside the scientific argument that fossil fuel poses an environmental risk, specialist predicts that the fossil material used in the production of fossil fuel will get depleted at some point in time. According to the protagonists of fossil exhaustion debate, fossil fuel is obtained from fossil materials mainly excavated from the ground whose reservoirs continue to diminish since they are never replenished. Hence, they expect that the fossil fuels will run out leaving most of the world population that rely on such fuels in desperation. Similarly, the environmental risk is another serious reason why the use of fossil fuel in the contemporary world should be reduced or even banned. When fossil fuel is burned, it produces by-products that are hazardous to the environment and human safety. For instance, carbon dioxide which is the central element created during the combustion process of fossil fuel reacts with other components to form compounds that are very harmful to the environment (Erickson \\\" Lazarus, 2018).
In conjunction, the primary cause of global warming and climate change currently experienced is mainly attributable to the burning of fossil fuel. The use of fossil fuel is, therefore, a disaster in the offing. It is prudent that each society realizes this reality and set up measures to help mitigate the challenge. Among the commonly applied mitigation measures on lessening the dependence on fossil fuel is the use of renewable energy. The modern technology has enabled the invention of eco-friendly means of producing reliable and renewable energy as an alternative. This paper will, therefore, discuss the possible ways which the United States of America can use to reduce its dependence on fossil energy.
Recommendations
Use of renewable energy
The advantages of reducing non-renewable energy consumption are indubitable. The world would be better and safer if the amount of fossil fuel consumed in each economy\u2019s sector is diminished or if its use is permanently replaced with a renewable source of energy. According to the U.S Department of power, fossil fuel produced in the country accounts for 85 percent of the total energy generated (Asafu-Adjaye, Byrne \\\" Alvarez, 2017). This means that the health and pollutions implications caused by this source of power should be worrying the society and the industry\u2019s stakeholders. The first practical way that the United States can use to lessen its dependency on fossil fuel is encouraging the use of renewable energy as alternative sources of energy. A significant number of pro-environmental conservation countries have already adopted the use of solar power, wind, geothermal energy, and hydropower as means of producing electricity. As mentioned above, the united states over-rely on electricity generated using fossil energy. If a safer and a more reliable alternative source of energy like solar or wind power is converted into electricity, the country will have reduced its use of fossil fuel in producing electricity.
Furthermore, this approach is relatively cheap and therefore, it will bring about increased productivity in the country\u2019s economy (Asafu-Adjaye, Byrne \\\" Alvarez, 2017). Renewable energy on its part is highly reliable and eco-friendly. There are no harmful elements in the form of by-products that are released into the environment, and thus, pollution is limited.
Alternative methods of transport
As a matter of facts, every prospective society should be headed towards the full eradication of non-renewable fuel consumption. Besides the economic aspect of the approach, use of renewable energy is another way of embracing technological advancement and innovations. In line with the use of non-renewable energies, the United States of America can also encourage the use of alternate forms of transportation. The transport sector is among the leading economic pillars identified as the reasons why fossil fuel consumption is skyrocketing. If citizens are convinced to utilize alternative transport means like trains, subways, bicycles or walking, the rate of fossil consumption will inarguably decrease. Logically, a high number of people in America\u2019s population own their vehicles. Each day, car owners drive their cars while running their activities implying that fossil fuel is burned daily. If such people can agree to use public transport instead of riding their vehicles, the amount of fossil fuel consumed on that day will reduce. Alternatively, people can walk or ride bicycles which are better placed to eliminate dependence on fossil energy permanently. Neither a bike nor a foot needs to be fuel for it to operate. Therefore, the United States should encourage its citizen to use bicycles mainly in major cities or walk as they work. The use of bicycles has practically been applied in most of the countries like China; hence, its adoption is realistic.
Conservative use of resources
If the demand for a commodity increase, it means that its use in the market is high to the extent that it surpasses its supply. The high demand for electricity in America is because of the increased utilization of power as a commodity in society. Each household in America requires a high supply of electricity forcing the government to expand its electricity production capacity which is achieved by acquiring and burning more fossil energy. Through research, many households in America have been found to use electricity with misuses exceeding the prudent use of electricity (Asafu-Adjaye, Byrne \\\" Alvarez, 2017). If the country can help its citizens conserve their electrical use at home levels, the national consumption of electricity will reduce meaning that less fossil fuel is used to produce the excess electricity. Unnecessary use of electricity like putting on the lights at the day should be discouraged to help curb electricity misuse. Similarly, the use of energy-efficient appliances needs to be advocated in every level of society. To help operationalize this strategy, the government should raise awareness on the need to reduce fossil fuel and the adverse effects it causees to the environment and the public as well.
Conclusion
The benefits that come with lessening a nation\u2019s dependence on fossil fuel are admirable. A successful campaign to reduce the amount of fossil fuel consumed in an economy implies that there will be reduced pollution, safe and healthy environments, resource conservation, minimize wastage and global environmental preservation. America, more than any other nation, needs an effective plan to actualize its push for a better and safe environment to its citizen and the world at large. Therefore, the use of renewable energy, conservative use of electricity and other resources related to fossil energy, and the adoption of alternative transport means should be prioritized for a better society now and in the future. The three recommendations mentioned above if implemented will set the country on the trail towards the achievement of a greener environment that is safe and cost-effective.
References
Asafu-Adjaye, J., Byrne, D., " Alvarez, M. (2017). Dataset for analysing the relationships among economic growth, fossil fuel and non-fossil fuel consumption. Data In Brief, 10, 17-19. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2016.11.076
Erickson, P., " Lazarus, M. (2018). Would constraining US fossil fuel production affect global CO2 emissions? A case study of US leasing policy. Climatic Change, 150(1-2), 29-42. doi: 10.1007/s10584-018-2152-z
Shafiee, S., " Topal, E. (2008). An econometrics view of worldwide fossil fuel consumption and the role of US. Energy Policy, 36(2), 775-786. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2007.11.002
