Custom essays on Negative effects of excessive use of energy on the environment

In this respect, it is important to lay emphasis on the negative impact of the excessive use and consumption of energy on the environment. The negative impact of modern economy and industry, including the production of energy en masse using fossil fuels, was noticed long time ago. The President of the US, J. Carter noted: “Ours is the most wasteful nation on Earth. We waste more energy than we import. With about the same standard of living, we use twice as much energy per person as do other countries like Germany, Japan, and Sweden. (Carter, 1977). The negative impact of the excessive consumption of energy and its production using fossil fuels grows stronger respectively to the increase of energy consumption.
Economic problems caused by current energy production and consumption
At the same time, the excessive use of energy leads to disastrous economic effects as well. To put it more precisely, the recent economic recession is closely intertwined with speculations and exorbitant oil prices (Argonne National Laboratory 2008). The dependence of the world economy on fossil fuels misbalances the economic relationships between importers of fossil fuels and exporters. Exporters grow dependent on importers, while the latter tend to speculations to maximize their profits being conscious of the inability of exporters to replace fossil fuels by other sources of energy.
Energy efficient technologies and their economic effects
Alternative sources of energy
In such a situation, the development of alternative sources of energy and the maximization of the energy efficiency is one of the major challenges for engineers as well as other professionals involved in modern business activities.
a. Solar
The use of solar power is one of the most prospective directions in the development of new technologies which can change the modern economy totally in global terms. The solar power is a renewable source of energy but its implementation is costly. Nevertheless, if the fossil fuels grow more and more scarce, the generation of solar power becomes economically attracting, while many countries encourage the development of “green” technologies using solar power.
b. Wind
The wind power is similar to the solar power, although the source of energy is different. Nevertheless, it is another challenge engineers should cope with to develop technologies which make the generation of wind power economically profitable and attracting to investors.
c. Hydroelectric
The use of hydroelectric power plants is the traditional and relatively environmentally friendly mode of the generation of power. However, even though the hydroelectric power uses renewable source of energy, this technology still needs improvement to minimize the negative impact of hydroelectric power plants on the environment because their construction affects the local fauna and flora leading to consistent changes in the local nature.
Thus, the modern economy needs to change, especially in regard to the use of energy efficient technologies which can decrease spending on energy and maximize the efficiency of the use of energy. In this respect, the wider use of alternative sources of energy mentioned above is very prospective because it allows the world economy to accelerate its growth using renewable sources of energy. At the same time, the use of alternative sources of energy will need the reconstruction of such industries as automobile industry because fossil fuels definitely do not have great future because one day they will simply disappear.

Works Cited:
Argonne National Laboratory. Total Energy Cycle Assessment of Electric and Conventional Vehicles: An Energy and Environmental Analysis, Vol. II: Appendices to Technical Report. Washington, D.C.: Argonne National Laboratory, Jan. 2008.
Best, Robert W. B. “Advanced Fusion Fuel Cycles”. Fusion Technology, Vol. 17, July 1990, pp. 661-5.
Carter, J. Address to the Nation. 1977.
Deudney, Daniel, and Christopher Flavin. Renewable Energy. In Blackburn, J.O. The Renewable Energy Alternative. Duke University Press, 1987.