10 Ways to Change the Use of Fossil Fuels

1. While there are many potentially revolutionary technologies that eventually could help the global society begin to seriously reduce and even eliminate its use of fossil fuels, the current situation is one where there are few alternatives capable of meeting our energy needs today. Even if the entire world decided tomorrow to completely switch to wind, solar, hydro and even nuclear power, the transformation process itself may take decades to complete. Yet even confronted with that stark reality, we can make a few changes in the way we employ fossil fuels that could significantly reduce their negative effects on the environment as well as allow us to continue using energy at current levels.

Boost Efficiency

2. The first and more important thing we can do is increase efficiency in the way we currently use fossil fuels. Four actions that fall under this heading include:
   --Increase fuel economy for vehicles through the use of advanced computer systems and hybrid technology.
   --Insulate homes, office buildings and other structures to cut down on heating and cooling demands. It is estimated that this alone could save homeowners in the U.S at least 20 percent in heating costs, which are mostly associated with fossil fuel use.
   --Use energy efficient electronics and appliances to cut down on energy consumption.
   --Create better insulation for electrical lines to avoid loss of power, and develop better ways of storing energy. Unfortunately, much of the electricity produced is lost through the grid system, and in many areas there is an energy surplus that goes to waste.

Reductions by Industry.

3. By cutting down on the use of fossil fuels for the production of industrial materials such as plastic, future stores of oil can be preserved. This can be done through the following three actions:
   --Promote the use of alternatives to plastic such as paper or reusable bags at the grocery story, or wooden spoons instead of plastic ones for cooking.
   --Increase recycling of existing plastic materials.
   --Explore alternatives that are renewable such as a new process that can create plastic food containers from corn.

Decreasing Agricultural Use

4. Up to 20 percent of all fossil fuel use in the United States goes toward the production, packaging and shipping of agricultural products. The key to reduce this consumption level is to promote smaller scale, localized farming. This can be accomplished through the following measures:
   --Eliminate subsidies that encourage hording an excessive exportation of food. This will lead to growing less and thus consuming less energy.
   --Break up large agribusinesses that promote inefficient energy use.
   --Promote local competition and local suppliers of seasonal produce by eliminating excessive bureaucratic regulations that benefit large producers with lower transactional costs for paperwork and licenses.