Everyday, Realistic Things You Can Do To Reduce Your Dependence On Fossil Fuel

Fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, and natural gas) in general provide over 60% of utility-scale electricity generation in the US. According to the Energy Information Agency (EIA), total energy consumption from fossil fuels was about 80% in 2020. 

Petroleum produces about 90% of the transportation sector’s energy. Plastics are an environmentally devastating product of the petrochemical industry.

Regarding coal, according to usgs.gov, “The generation of electricity continues to account for the consumption of over 92% of coal mined in the U.S.” The Energy Information Agency (EIA) estimates that coal will continue to provide fuel to generate approximately 25% of the electricity used in the U.S.

Natural gas plants provide about 40% of US energy needs, according to National Geographic. Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and horizontal drilling are controversial practices used to tap into natural gas reserves that are linked to air pollution, groundwater and surface water contamination, as well as serious health problems.

We are individually and collectively paying the price of continued fossil fuel use- from negative public and personal health consequences like certain cancers and respiratory diseases, to environmental tolls like air, water, and soil pollution, man-made environmental disasters, as well as global warming.

Take heart! There are everyday actions you can take to reduce dependence on fossil fuel. I won’t waste your time talking about doing unrealistic things like walking to work when your job is 40 minutes away by car (although, certainly consider walking or biking if your job is just around the corner). Here are some practical ways to make a change for the better:

• Raise awareness. Raising awareness may sound cliché, but statistically, it makes sense. The more people that we can influence to change behaviors, the greater the positive impact on fossil fuel reduction. Social scientists have performed countless studies that show that one person making a change is highly likely to positively influence others.
• Upgrade. When you need a new car, trade in your vehicle for the most fuel efficient option. 
• Go solar. If you own a home, transition to a renewable resource, such solar energy. Initial installation may seem like a big investment, but there are loans and credits available, and you should almost certainly win over time. After all, eventually, your renewable energy system will be paid off and you will have free electricity at that point. In contrast, fossil fuel electric bills are forever! This may sound daunting, but this is the crux of the fossil fuel problem: Consumers are using fossil fuels, so they continue to be produced. 
• Reduce your energy use. Be conscientious about the biggest energy wasters in your home. For most people, the largest energy consumption is from heating/cooling, appliances, and lights. Seek to conserve energy by turning off unnecessary lighting and electronics, and modifying the way you dress at home to reduce your heating and cooling needs.
• Reduce your overall consumption of products, especially petroleum byproducts. Ditch the fast fashion, the cheaply made toys and gadgets, as well as single-use products (plastic cups, straws, utensils, containers, etc.), and minimize food waste.
• Write to corporations and government entities. Take a few minutes (perhaps once a week or once a month) to draft emails to relevant parties in order to advocate for environmentally responsible practices. There are pre-existing email templates and sample letters available online to get you started.
• Support companies who support the environment. Avoid investing in stocks in the fossil fuel industry, or purchasing from companies with reckless environmental practices. Support businesses that use or promote renewable energy. This includes farms, corporations, and small businesses.
• Eat less meat (or eliminate it all together). According to David Pimentel, professor of ecology in Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, animal protein production requires more than eight times as much fossil-fuel energy than production of plant protein.
• Donate to effective organizations that advocate for reduction in fossil fuels. There are also organizations that offset carbon emissions.
• Eat organically, sustainably and locally. In industrial farming, the biggest fossil fuel usage occurs in the production of chemicals for fertilizers. In general, the more processed the food, the more packaging used, and the more distant the transport of said food, the greater the fossil fuel use to produce it.
• Reuse items or buy used items when appropriate.
• Recycle. Recycling is a form of reuse, since items can gain another life by being repurposed, reducing or eliminating the need for virgin materials. The EPA estimates that, although the vast majority of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off recycling programs, only 32.1% of appropriate materials are recycled or composted.