Where and how can fossil fuels be used?

Searching for the facts about fossil fuels and how they're used in the United States? The National Academies, advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine, provides objective background information about the pros and cons of these energy sources. read more

Fossil fuels are used to generate heat through combustion with oxygen. This heat contains thermal energy that can be converted into movement in order to facilitate operations that would otherwise have to be provided by humans, animals, or water wheels. An example is the automobile. read more

Over the past 20 years, nearly three-fourths of human-caused emissions came from the burning of fossil fuels. The Energy Department maintains emergency petroleum reserves, ensures responsible development of America’s oil and gas resources and executes natural gas regulatory responsibilities. read more

Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources, as they have taken millions of years to form. Once these resources are used, they will not be replenished. Moreover, fossil fuels are the largest source of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change, and their production causes both environmental and human health impacts. read more

Fossil energy sources, including oil, coal and natural gas, are non-renewable resources that formed when prehistoric plants and animals died and were gradually buried by layers of rock. Over millions of years, different types of fossil fuels formed -- depending on what combination of organic matter was present, how long it was buried and what temperature and pressure conditions existed as time passed. read more

Use of biofuels such as ethanol or biodiesel could also play an important role in saving fossil fuels. Ethanol is is the most common biofuel worldwide. It can be mixed with gasoline to any percentage and used in existing petrol engines as a replacement of gasoline. read more