Essay on Global Warming

The United States is the second largest producer of greenhouse gases in the world, and yet is doing very little to fix this startling statistic (Dennis). The US’ reliance upon outdated energy sources continues to harm both the environment and the economy by producing millions of tonnes of pollution every year and costing the government billions of dollars (“Fact Sheet: Clean Power Plan”). Fossil fuels have been the main energy sources in America since the industrial revolution, and it is time to make a change. Renewable energy is energy harnessed from sources like the sun, wind, or water, and has little to no negative effects on the environment (“Renewable Energy Technology Basics”). The United States needs to integrate and increase the use of these types of energy across the country, as well as implement positive environmental policies, to prevent further pollution of the earth and combat the effects of climate change.

Shifting the majority of energy consumption in the U.S. to clean energy would affect people and businesses both in and outside of the nation. This inevitably creates concern surrounding the topic and causes delays due to necessary controversy and questioning. While plenty of concerns are valid, others have been answered by studies and reports by various organizations but have yet to reach the public in masses.

The current energy policy for the United States of America is quickly becoming obsolete in current times. With issues of national security, pollution and global warming, and sustainability all becoming ever more important in today’s world the nation is in need of a serious energy overhaul. As it stands now government entities and officials rely primarily on private companies to create and transport the energy that the American public uses daily. The problem with this energy policy stems from the three main features of how private companies handle the production and acquisition of energy: relying on fossil fuels, importing fuels, and operating in an unsustainable fashion.

Climate change is an issue that has plagued the minds of humans for centuries. The issue goes back as far as the ancient Greeks, who thought that cutting down forests could lead to more rain. We have always been preoccupied with the topic, and now finally we have evidence that it is in fact happening. We have to work towards lessening the effects that climate change has on our society and combat the reluctance of our government to change our nation’s methods of getting energy. In, “A Climate Repair Manual,” by Gary Stix, he urges Americans to change their ways and use more renewable sources of energy.

A study done in 2015 by the Royal Society of Chemistry, a non-profit organization of chemical scientists in the UK, shows that, if the US were to switch to utilize solar and wind energy sources, the air pollution mortality will decrease by at least 62,000 premature deaths yearly. In addition, converting would eliminate up to 3.3 trillion dollars per year in “2050 global warming costs to the world due to US emissions,” and the average person would save $1500 in health costs and $8300 on climate costs yearly. (Jacobson). Opposition to cleaner energy sources comes mainly from the business world, which fears the EPA estimated $1.4 billion in factory modifications; however, “$2.9 billion to $5.9 billion will be saved each year due to fewer missed days of work and school, emergency room visits and premature deaths” (Adams). By changing the methods in which we acquire energy, we can change air and life quality in a positive

With fossil fuels powering 85% of energy in the United States and the ignorance towards the negative impacts of burning them, dependency on these harmful resources have skyrocketed and will continue to. In 2006, around 7% of America’s gross domestic product was spent on fossil fuels which is greater than what was spent on education and the military (1). The fight to teach the public to be less dependent on fossil fuels begins with decreasing usage. Decreasing energy consumption can be as simple as turning technology off when not in use, ensuring the home is efficient, and changing light bulbs to fluorescent ones. These simple changes can be taught to everyone not just save them money, but also to make sure that future generations reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the future. In addition individuals in a community can also band together to encourage local lawmakers to make areas more people friendly and use less cars (2).

NGS integrates greenhouse into other major policy initiatives, such as the Natural Heritage Trust, and launches new measures to increase greenhouse emission reduction activities across the Australian community. It provides the strategic framework for an effective greenhouse response and for meeting current and future international commitments. It will provide a fresh impetus for action by governments, stakeholder groups and the broader community and set directions for that action into the next century.

Energy has been a huge problem in the past decade in the United States, primarily because of global warming and climate change. Clinton said, “I won’t let anyone take us backward, deny our economy the benefits of harnessing a clean energy future, or force our children to endure the catastrophe that would result from unchecked climate change.” Hillary Clinton has proposed two main national goals to fight climate change, create jobs, protect the health of American families, and make the United States of America the world’s clean energy superpower. The first goal that Secretary Clinton proposes is to have more than 500 million solar panels installed by the end of her first term- this will create good-paying jobs. This will also cut energy waste in homes, schools, and hospitals by a third, as well as reduce American oil consumption by a third- energy will be secured by reducing the amount of oil consumed in the United States and around the world. Her second goal is to provide enough clean renewable energy to power every single home in the United States within ten years of taking office.

The United States of America is suffering from a downward trend in competitiveness. From a policymaker’s standpoint, it makes sense for a focus to be on the events most pressing. It could be conceded, however, that a continued dependence on nonrenewable energy could create unwanted ties with extremist nations in the Middle East, while also being a silent killer on the home front. When lawmakers do not take the initiative to make changes in an effort to improve the quality of life and the life expectancy for individuals in a society, it is up to the general public to make this change.

The same concept could be used for energy uses, by implementing a tax if your energy use rises above a certain number per square feet of your house hold and rewarding those who stay within the threshold.

Today in the United States gas is at a record low on the national average being below $3 it seems like we are heading in the right direction, but looks can be deceiving. While the USA gas prices drop, other countries are fighting over our $120+ Billion average oil costs. Despite the consistent jump prices from being outrageously expensive to afford to fill up our tanks, we are still not focusing more on something that would save the American people billions a year. The solution is focusing less on finding oil that will eventually become scarce to switching to a more logical choice; which is renewable energy.

The United States consumes more energy than needed, compared to the rest of the world. However, to properly address such an issue as over consumption of energy, one first must understand what “energy” is.

In this paper the three laws of thermodynamics will be explained and how these laws apply to energy use, energy conversions, and the need for energy efficiency. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of energy types including fossil fuels, nuclear energy, solar energy, wind power, water (hydro) power, and biofuel will be described. In order to combat our growing energy problems the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was signed into law to help create tax incentives and loans for conservation and use of alternative fuels. Two provisions of the Act, promotion of US nuclear construction and the addition of ocean energy sources will be described and how these provisions can help the United States meet energy use goals.

U.S. Conditions like Florida and other states with a high range of hot spells are perfect

Imagine you are placed into the future. The year is 2100. You begin to live in this