The Oil ApocalypseDesiree LittleNovember 9, 2015Geology 113Dr. Jon PowellThe Oil ApocalypseAccording to the video “Oil Apocalypse: What If the Oil Runs Out?” It’s not the question of if but when the oil is all used up. This is going to be a huge problem because oil is a source of energy used widely across the globe and is allowing people to live in luxury the way we do today. Oil is used as fuel for transportation in vehicles, trains, and jet fuel as well as heating and electricity generation. It is also used in tires, asphalt, chemicals, plastic, and several other everyday items. When oil runs out completely it could be disastrous for people everywhere. It is very important that we come up with alternative resources to replace oil before this “Oil Apocalypse” takes place.There are several things we are working on that is currently replacing oil or using much less of it. One of the main uses of oil is fuel for vehicles. It is a necessity that we create vehicles that are not dependent on the use of oil in order to operate. This is idea is already in place and so far is successful. We have access to hybrid vehicles, which have an electric engine. They still need oil but a much smaller amount and they’re very conservative and much better for the environment. Fully electric cars don’t use oil at all. They just need to be plugged in and solely run off of electricity. These are just a few things that we are working on that would greatly help conserve oil and delay the oil apocalypse if we were to get everyone to use this new technology.
Another alternative source for oil that has been used is Ethanol. It is made from a variety of plant material such as grain, corn, and sugar cane. Much of the gasoline in the United States contains a small percentage of Ethanol. Other countries such as Brazil are using 100% Ethanol as their main fuel source. The problem with using Ethanol is that it is expensive to produce and harsh on the environment. Another huge issue is if we start using large amounts of crops to produce fuel and energy that may eventually result in running out of food, which would be even more devastating. There are several different sources of energy that we use and are extremely dependent on other than oil like coal for example, which are also slowly diminishing. The main issue is that we have so many people on the planet that use the same products and the resources we have are never going to last forever.
The Problem
Our energy world is an energy-hungry one. For energy to truly make economic sense and continue to grow, we are going to need to change on an enormous scale. There can be a variety of approaches to the problem that will help us get to the goals discussed above. These may be simple or may include making the process of production more expensive for both energy prices and human populations which will require energy security, including energy storage. There can also be a variety of approaches, depending on the situation, on how we approach energy and energy consumption and also what the technologies of energy storage might be, in the next few years or decades.
One of the key challenges in making energy sustainable is not with fossil fuels but with the human population, especially the poor. Even in most places with a low number of people still living, there is no “food security” provided by the oil fields. We don’t have a “food security” at all since the economy is relatively simple, and food supplies, such as food as fat, sugar and other products, are typically limited in most places. While some will think that food security is necessary not only for the United States but also in most other countries on the planet to survive, this is not the case nor does it mean we need to reduce the percentage of energy contained in fuel and energy use. In fact, food security, as well as the many other environmental issues associated with our food security, can be achieved easily by not increasing petroleum production because the use of petroleum does not change the composition and nature of the food.
The U.S. Government’s proposed energy strategy to end its dependence on coal and petroleum is set forth below.
Falling Carrying Capacity
One of the major challenges in meeting the challenges of our environment is to increase the capacity of our energy sources. Energy supply from fossil fuels is often seen as going up or down so quickly that it is not an economical option to power our homes. Energy use by households and businesses, whether it be powering power plants or in transportation, is usually less than 50% of total energy consumed by households or businesses but increases as more and more people spend some of this energy on equipment for energy-related needs such as heating, cooling and more generally, power.
One of the most effective ways of controlling the energy flow that can be generated by heating a home or vehicle is to build a renewable energy system. In many states, energy efficiency standards (EEC) can provide the right mix of products for a low-carbon climate (for example high-power electricity, wind, solar energy) and provide a sufficient level of energy for building in areas where such energy can be produced cheaply and efficiently. These same EEC practices are often implemented in other countries including some in the Soviet Union where the efficiency standards are applied more closely to their place of source. Another important way of creating this balance is to encourage more efficient uses of renewable energy such as wind power, solar energy and natural gas.
The United States is currently relying heavily on fossil fuels to keep the economy running while providing clean energy (not to mention clean cars & air conditioners)! Many of us, including myself, are living in a world with a high level of pollution related to our emissions of greenhouse gases (CH3 for example). This air pollution affects over 90% of citizens in our country making up 80% or more of the population. We live in a world where much of the emissions are not being taken seriously. Since we are