Ways to Save Fossil Fuels
- Fossil fuels contribute to global warming.Coal for barbecue image by Nikolay Okhitin from Fotolia.com
For centuries, people have burned fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum products for energy, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. As a result, the average surface temperature on earth has increased by as much as 4 degrees F since the Industrial Revolution, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. You can take steps to slow global warming by reducing the amount of fossil fuels you consume in your daily activities. - Share a ride with others whenever you can, advises EcoMall, an organization dedicated to environmental conservation. As you drive, each gallon of gas your vehicle burns emits 22 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. When you carpool when friends and colleagues or take the bus, you take one CO2-emitting vehicle off the road. You might also walk or bike to your destinations and eliminate CO2 emissions from your transportation altogether.
- You will use more fossil fuel than necessary if you keep your home too cool in warm weather or too warm in cooler weather, according to EcoMall. That organization advises you to set your thermostat no lower than 78 degrees in the summer and no higher than 68 degrees in the winter. By doing those two things, you could prevent 420 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year.
- Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) may cost more than incandescent bulbs, but they can reduce yearly CO2 emissions from your home by as much as 260 pounds. They burn as brightly as incandescent bulbs while producing less heat and requiring the use of less fossil energy. You should replace the bulbs in the five lights you use most frequently, according to the EPA.
- Your home appliances can require fossil fuel production that yields 1,100 pounds of unnecessary CO2 emissions every year, according to EcoMall. To reduce waste, keep your freezer at 3 degrees and your refrigerator at 37. Set the thermostat on your water heater no higher than 120 degrees and avoid washing your clothes in hot water. Turn off the heat drying option on your dishwasher and let dishes air dry instead.
- The EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy have joined to promote fossil fuel conservation through the Energy Star program--a program in which appliances must meet strict energy efficiency guidelines. When buying new appliances for your home, you should look for appliances bearing the Energy Star label.
Drive Less
Moderate Climate Control
Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Reduce Use of Appliances
Buy Energy Star Appliances
Source...