Energy Conservation

Written by: Kelly L. Hunter

Research has indicated that humans are depleting the Earth of the necessary natural resources that it needs for survival. For many years we have been mining for fossil fuels, metals, and minerals for transportation purposes, heating and cooling our homes, and for other various forms of consumption. Such things as surface mining for coal has been said to have caused extreme pollution to our land, water, and air. Scientists are now trying to educate the general public on these dangers and the long-term effects that we may endure if we do not change our way of living.
According to the Nonrenewable Energy Resources (2007), “Coal mining, especially surface mining; has substantial effects on the environment” (p. 410). Before the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) was passed in 1977, most surface mines were left abandoned once their resources were depleted. These large open pits of land that were once a functioning mine were left exposed and vulnerable to the elements. This led to such things as acid and toxic mineral drainage, land erosion, water pollution, and the lack of vegetation to hold the ground together. In some cases the unstable terrain would turn into landslides causing even greater damage to the towns that surrounded these areas.
The Axia College Week Seven reading (2007), also states that “One of the most land destructive types of surface mining is mountaintop removal” (p. 410). These studies go on to say that mountaintop removal is responsible for an estimated 15 to 25 percent of the leveling of mountains in West Virginia. According to reports, the valleys and surrounding streams have been destroyed as well and are now filled with debris and toxic wastes that were left behind from the mines.
The United States alone relies heavily on the mining of coal and coal produced fuels. According to the Nonrenewable Energy Resources (2007), “In the United States, coal-burning electric power plants currently produce one-third of all airborne mercury emissions” (p. 410). Much of the coal that is being burned contains dangerous minerals like sulfur and nitrogen. When these harmful oxides are released into our atmosphere, they create different kinds of acid reactions when coming into contact with water. This creates a reaction that is commonly known as acid deposition or “acid rain”. This form of precipitation has significant harmful effects on the environment and is associated with forest decline and greenhouse gases that are causing global warming.
Acid deposition unfortunately is not the only harmful side effect caused by the burning of coal. Burning any form of fossil fuel in general can be harmful to our atmosphere because this releases carbon dioxides into the air; burning coal however, is even more harmful. Coal is said to release more carbon dioxides per unit of heat energy manufactured into the air than any other fossil fuel being used today. As stated by the Nonrenewable Energy Resources (2007), “Currently we are releasing so much CO² into the atmosphere that global temperature may be affected (because the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases prevents heat from escaping from the planet)” (p. 411). Coal resources are not our only concern according to scientific research; oil and natural gas also play a major roll in environmental pollution as well as in our current economic issues. Approximately 63 percent of the energy resources used in the United States is that of oil and natural gas which we purchase from foreign countries (Axia College, 2007). The remaining resources used in the U.S. are nuclear power, hydropower, and coal.
The United States does not seem to be using very many of the renewable resources that are available to us. In fact, if you go by the chart, you will see that “other” represents renewable resources such as wind, solar, and agricultural products which ranks at approximately only one percent. Knowing what we already have learned about the harmful effects of nonrenewable resources, why is it that we are not following in the footsteps of many European countries who are utilizing these wonderfully clean and readily available fundamentals?
It is detrimental to our survival and to the future of our children that we educate ourselves on topics such as renewable and nonrenewable energies and resources. I also feel that it is way past decision time on whether we will or will not convert to a cleaner way of living. At this point, much is known about the damage that has been caused to our planet’s atmosphere and obvious changes have begun occurring to our weather patterns and to the Earth’s geographical structure. However, even with all the information that is available, there are still opposing sides and viewpoints addressing the pros and cons of “going Green”.
There has been great debate over the rise in corn prices due to the use of the vegetable in making fuels such as ethanol. Research has now discovered that we can use the scraps or straw from corn that is left over after cultivation and harvesting instead of using the crop itself (Axia College, 2007). This particular resource has the opportunity to create jobs in the agricultural industry (an industry that has nearly become a-thing-of-the-past) and also brings forth the need for farmland (something we keep destroying). The opposition claims that this is not fool-proof and that the price of popcorn has risen an estimated 40 percent since 2006 and the price of milk has skyrocketed as well (Patterson, 2007).
If the use of corn is not our answer, there are other alternatives to using nonrenewable resources available for the world to choose form. Resources such as solar and wind energies are avenues that have been studied for years and are becoming serious possibilities for future alternatives. We can heat and coal our homes with either of these renewable energies; they can even be used simultaneously. Bigger named car companies have also designed cars that run on power created by solar electricity, organic fuels, and a combination of hydrogen and fuel to name only a few. Homeowners who have chosen to “go green” by designing solar powered homes have actually been able to sell energy back to the power companies.
Solar energy is radiation produced by nuclear fusion reactions deep in the Sun’s core. The sun provides almost all the heat and light that Earth receives and therefore sustains every living being (Microsoft, 2007). According to MSN Encarta (2007), “People can make indirect use of solar energy that has been naturally collected just as the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and plant life collect energy that people later extract to power technology” (¶ 3). Plants store solar energy through a process called photosynthesis, where solar energy is turned into chemical energy, which fuels plant growth (Microsoft, 2007). MSN Encarta (2007), states that “Fossil fuels such as oil and coal are derived from geologically ancient plant life” (¶ 7).
Many factors are involved in the decline of our Earth’s atmosphere and much speculation has been made as to whether or not humans have had the greatest impact on this decline. We have evolved into a society of over-consumption and wastefulness. Other steps must also be taken to help restore what we have extracted from the Earth and what we have put back into our atmosphere and environments. Going green and living clean may be harder to get used to than what we think. However, by simply cutting out the use of plastic bags when shopping and replacing those bags with reusable canvas bags instead; we could possibly make a substantial difference in some of this harmful pollution. We also need to make sure that our communities have an efficient recycling program for our recyclable goods. On top of that, we can get our friends and families together a couple weekends a month and clean up the garbage and debris that is found alongside our roadways and neighborhood streets.
Although adjusting to this more positive and beneficial lifestyle may be difficult, studies prove that it is quite necessary for not only the Earth’s survival but for ours as well. Drastic measures need to be taken immediately in order to insure our quality of life for generations to come. This is a change that will only work if it is taken on a global level. I believe that this is what the majority of people do not understand. People may feel that since they do not live near the arctic icecaps that they do not need to be concerned with the fact that they are melting at a dangerously high rate of speed. What people do not seem to realize is that the disappearance of these icecaps alone will change the fate of the world. Polar bears will quickly become extinct due to drowning if they are unable to find solid ground to stand on, causing the circle of life to become distorted not to mention the flooding that may occur worldwide.
What we must realize is that we are all in this life together and depend on each other for survival whether we are human, animal, or plant life. If we do not take gentle care of our beautiful planet, we will ultimately become extinct ourselves because we will have destroyed our only home. Positive change and action must be done on all levels be it government, globally, or with in our own communities. Make today the day that you and your family begin living green and clean.

Reference(s)

Axia College Week Seven Reading (2007) Chapter 17 Nonrenewable Energy Resources. (p. 406-427).

Axia College Week Seven Reading (2007) Chapter 18 Renewable Energy Resources. (p.428-452).

MSN Encarta. Solar Energy. Microsoft Corporation (2007). Retrieved Feb. 02, 2008.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/search.aspx?q=renewable+energy+resources

Patterson, Gary W. How Will You Cope in a Clean-Energy World. Financial Executive (2007) Vol. 23 Issue 9, p.56-59. Retrieved Feb. 02, 2008.