In the United States, 69% of energy was sourced from natural gas with 33%, and petroleum, 36%. As is common knowledge, petroleum and natural gas are extremely harmful to the environment. Burning fossil fuels, like petroleum and natural gas, releases carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas that enters, and traps heat in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels also produces nitrogen oxides, which contribute to smog and acid rain.

Natural gas, which is comprised mostly methane, also leaks from wells into the atmosphere. Methane is, of course, another strong greenhouse gas. Petroleum is also highly damaging. Petroleum must be refined from crude oil, a refinement process which creates toxic products like BTEX compounds, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide, chemicals that are known or suspected to cause cancer.

Along with many other issues, like gas leaks, water contamination, release of ammonia, fossil fuels, like natural gas and petroleum, have a limited source. Eventually, the Earth will run out of fossil fuels, with that, a supermajority of Earth’s energy production would be put to a halt. The use of green energy and practices is a preventative measure for the future. Green energy is both cleaner, and more environmentally friendly, but also renewable.