A Crude Awakening
Fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal have been burned as a source of energy for many years, but are they safe and lasting? Renewable energy, on the other hand, has been around for centuries. From the water wheels and mills of the Middle Ages to the photoelectric effect in solar panels of the early 1900’s, renewable energy is constantly being renovated and improved upon. Due to fossil fuels’ negative effects on the environment and lack of supply, renewable energy should be used in substitute. When fossil fuels are burned, greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap heat around Earth’s surface making temperatures slightly warmer and changing the climate. In the past fifty years, the Earth’s …show more content…
The lack of oil found in the U.S. has left the nation to depend on other countries as energy suppliers; however, renewable energy would allow the U.S. to become self-sufficient and prepared for an international crisis. This newfound self-sufficiency would also cause energy prices to plummet, boosting the economy. Many wars and conflict have risen over the control of oil and other energy sources, but future conflicts can be prevented with the increased use of renewable energy sources. In addition, renewable resources can also lead to an abundance of new jobs. For example, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 would have created around 1.7 million jobs and required all retail energy suppliers to have at least 20% of their demand come from renewable energy. At the time, the Senate was more interested in cleaning up the Gulf oil spill and did not want to address climate change, so the bill was rejected (“American Clean Energy and Security Act of …show more content…
Energy relates to sociology because it allows for the advancement of society. Technology, one of the faster changing aspects of society, is dependent on some sort of energy, renewable or not. Cars, computers, and cell phones are just a few examples of frequently used products that require energy. Our society is one that is highly dependent on energy, so it is hard to imagine how much daily life would change without energy. As industry and education are becoming more reliant on computers and technology and as fossil fuels run low, we are being forced to find a new source of
Fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal have been burned as a source of energy for many years, but are they safe and lasting? Renewable energy, on the other hand, has been around for centuries. From the water wheels and mills of the Middle Ages to the photoelectric effect in solar panels of the early 1900’s, renewable energy is constantly being renovated and improved upon. Due to fossil fuels’ negative effects on the environment and lack of supply, renewable energy should be used in substitute. When fossil fuels are burned, greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap heat around Earth’s surface making temperatures slightly warmer and changing the climate. In the past fifty years, the Earth’s …show more content…
The lack of oil found in the U.S. has left the nation to depend on other countries as energy suppliers; however, renewable energy would allow the U.S. to become self-sufficient and prepared for an international crisis. This newfound self-sufficiency would also cause energy prices to plummet, boosting the economy. Many wars and conflict have risen over the control of oil and other energy sources, but future conflicts can be prevented with the increased use of renewable energy sources. In addition, renewable resources can also lead to an abundance of new jobs. For example, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 would have created around 1.7 million jobs and required all retail energy suppliers to have at least 20% of their demand come from renewable energy. At the time, the Senate was more interested in cleaning up the Gulf oil spill and did not want to address climate change, so the bill was rejected (“American Clean Energy and Security Act of …show more content…
Energy relates to sociology because it allows for the advancement of society. Technology, one of the faster changing aspects of society, is dependent on some sort of energy, renewable or not. Cars, computers, and cell phones are just a few examples of frequently used products that require energy. Our society is one that is highly dependent on energy, so it is hard to imagine how much daily life would change without energy. As industry and education are becoming more reliant on computers and technology and as fossil fuels run low, we are being forced to find a new source of