Introduction
Globally, energy consumption has increased tremendously despite the limited sources of energy reserves. Studies have shown that at primary level, energy consumption requirement to sustain life has increased. Initially it was estimated that there is a continual everyday demand of 100 watts of energy for each individual. Nevertheless, inclusion of other related commodities raises this energy demand to higher levels (Smith, 2003).
Coal, fuel, oil, and fossil fuels refer to energy stored after its entrapment from the solar radiation in ancient times. In regards to human matrix, these fuels are relatively new, but in the present world they have become very useful. However, their supply is finite and limited. It is alleged that the current society is in the fossil fuel revolution age because natural gasses have been embraced as there is notable departure from coal and oil use. Increase in demand for efficient and cleaner forms of energy has led to exclusion of previous forms of energy. Therefore, fossil fuels place in the current society have been displaced. Several factors have ascribed to this case. This include excavation of these resources is usually costly and leads to exploitation of the land. Effects have exemplified by presence of devastating land terrains. Since fossil fuels are bulky their transportation costs are usually expensive.
Carbon dioxide emission
Fossil fuels do not have a place in today’s society as a source of energy because Large-scale utilization of fossil fuels increases concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Researches have shown that, prevalence of greenhouse effect is an implication of the notable large amounts of carbon dioxide gas resulting from excessive use of fossil fuels. Nevertheless, alternative sources of energy have been realized that suppresses the need to use fossil fuels in energy production processes. Examples of these alternatives include solar energy, wind energy, geothermal and carbon dioxide energy tapped from underground and deep seas.
Another aspect encompasses utilization of biomass. Although energy generation from biomass releases carbon dioxide since it is part of its constituent, growth of plants helps in removal of this gas from the atmosphere through respiration (Smith, 2003). Thus, biomass has been referred to as a neutral energy source for green house gases. Unlike fossil fuels, carbon generated from biomass contains a short life cycle period exemplified by the interchange of carbon generation and removal from the atmosphere between the ground and the plants (Ghosh and Prelas, 2010).
Therefore, fossil fuels generate carbon dioxide, which persists in the atmosphere for many years unlike the short life cycle noted on carbon dioxide generated from biomass. It is argued that large volumes of carbon dioxide emitted during burning of fossil fuels are the amount that was tapped in ancient times when it constituted the largest percentage of the atmospheric gas.
Exhaustion of resources
Moreover, existence of a renewable society has usurped the need for fossil fuels as a source of energy. This is in regards to the fact that fossil fuels are non renewable sources of energy (Smith, 2003). The current demand of energy to maintain the established standards of prosperity and standards of living of the developing countries and regions in the world is based on the ability of the energy reserve to withstand possibilities of exhaustion. Also, there is need for the energy source to cause less or no pollution. The approaches have been adopted due to the risks posed by the dwindling availability of energy resources.
As a result, mankind has been challenged by sustainability of fossil fuels in meeting the current pattern of energy consumption (Deffeyes, 2011) Movements to attain sustainability of energy resources in the current industrialized world have been intrigued by the exhaustion of fossil fuels resources in the area of energy production. Similarly, the unprecedented rate of fossil fuel exhaustion has caused its unreliability in the current society. Moreover, the position of fossil fuels as a source of energy in the current society has been outdone due to the unavoidable emission of harmful gas and particles in the atmosphere that are presumed to accelerate dangerous events in the next coming years. Also fear to mitigate the expected dangers of fossil fuel products, which is expected to be more severe, reduces the need to rely on fossil fuels.
Conclusion
In conclusion, emergence of alternative and efficient sources of energy has replaced fossil fuel use in energy production. This is based on negative effects associated with fossil fuels. This is based on the fact that alternative sources of energy are safe and clean. Despite the associated costs, solar, geothermal and wind energy generation result into minimal wastes emission. This is opposed to the particulate matter and carbon dioxide that are emitted in production of energy from fossil fuels. In addition, generation of power from fossil fuels is subject to extinction due to availability of limited resources.
Therefore, the current demand for energy notable in industrialized countries cannot be achieved through use of fossil fuels. Further, it is notable that reserves for fossil fuels are subject to disputes unlike in cases of solar and wind energy. Production of energy from fossil fuels is usually costly as compared to other forms of energy production. In the case of solar energy production, there are less moving parts implying less maintenance costs unlike energy production from fossil fuel. Moreover, it has been identified that energy generation from fossil fuels are prone to be interrupted by natural catastrophes such as earthquakes or hurricanes while energy from solar systems are less affected, due to its backup ability, solar energy has been harnessed. Therefore, fossil fuels do not have a place in the current society.
References
Deffeyes, K.S. (2011). The Future of Fossil Fuels: From “Hubbert’s Peak,” New York: Princeton University Press. Web.
Ghosh, T and Prelas, M. A. (2010). Energy resources and Systems: Fundamentals and Non-renewable Resources, New York: Springer. Web.
Smith, D. H. (2003). Renewable Good-Fossil Bad, Kansas: Northern Arizona University. Web.