Fossil Fuels 101 & Vampire Power

What are fossil fuels, how did they form, why are they considered non-renewable, and how do they contribute to climate change? The video below provides a quick overview that helps answer these questions:

One disadvantage of fossil fuels is that, unlike renewable energy options (e.g. wind, solar, water, etc.), they are non-renewable due to the fact that they require millions of years of decomposition of organic material (i.e. fossils) before they can be used. Another disadvantage is that the burning of fossils fuels for energy, as well as their extraction from the Earth, releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thus acting as a primary cause of climate change.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the breakdown of the different sources of electricity production in the U.S. in 2023 were as follows:

1. Natural Gas (43.1%)

2. Renewables (21.4%)

3. Nuclear (18.6%)

4. Coal (16.2%)

5. Petroleum and Other (0.8%)

The recent push for clean energy has resulted in a substantial increase in the contribution of renewables. In 2023, the contribution of various sources of renewable energy were the following:

1. Wind (10.2%)

2. Hydro (i.e., water) (5.7%)

3. Solar (3.9%)

4. Biomass (1.1%)

5. Geothermal (0.4%)

Though there are multiple ways to promote renewable energy sources (to be discussed in other articles), one easy way to reduce your use of fossil fuels is through reduced energy consumption. One simple way to do this is given below. Please refer to other Green Xpectations articles for additional ideas.

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Helpful Hint

Vampire power refers to electricity that is being consumed by electronics and appliances while turned off or in standby mode. Even charging cords that have been disconnected from all devices but remain plugged in are drawing electricity. Vampire power can account for up to 20% of your electricity usage. Practice unplugging unused devices, including charging cords, while paying attention to the resulting impact on your monthly electricity bills.