“We need to stop using up fossil fuels.” You’ve probably heard that hundreds of times over the last couple of years, but it’s important to understand the “why” behind the thought. What most people don’t realize, is that there are some significant hidden costs that come along with utilizing fossil fuels as a source of energy – and there are plenty of alternatives out there.

The Hidden Dangers of Using Fossil Fuels For Energy | Electro Industries

What Are Fossil Fuels?

Let’s start with a quick discussion on what actually qualifies as a “fossil fuel.” Put simply, they are rock-like, gas or liquid resources that are burned to generate power. Some of the most common fossil fuels include coal, natural gas and oil and they’re used as a variety of energy sources including the electricity and transportation sectors.

The Hidden Costs

We could speak for days about the hidden costs of burning fossil fuels, but today we want to focus on global warming emissions. All fossil fuels emit carbon dioxide and other harmful air pollutants when they’re burned. And you guessed it, when these toxins become airborne, they have negative effects local, regional, national and global levels.

Healthier Alternatives To Fossil Fuels

Back in 2014, nearly 80% of U.S. global warming emissions were energy-related. On the other hand, alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal contribute less than 1% of the total energy related global warming emissions. Big difference, right?

Well, in honor of National Pollution Prevention week, we’re asking you to take a stand. Making a conscious effort to reduce fossil fuel consumption can really go a long way. The first step is to take your energy consumption into account and if you’re wondering how you can track it, you’ve come to the right place!

Electro Industries/GaugeTech specializes in power meters and smart grid solutions that excel at revenue grade energy measurement, power quality and advanced telemetry. Users worldwide depend on EIG power meters to monitor power information within substations, industrial facilities and commercial buildings. Give us a call today at 866-928-7908 to find out how we can help!