How do humans use fossil fuels as a source of energy?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, fossil fuels provided 85 percent of the energy needs in the United States in 2007. Fossil fuel energy is used to produce electricity, power vehicles and heat homes.IdentificationCoal, oil and natural gas are fossil fuels. There were formed beneath the Earth’s surface from pressure and heat over millions of years. Fossil fuel energy sources are not renewable–once these are used, they are gone forever.ElectricityIn 2007, fossil fuels accounted for 72 percent of the electricity generated in the United States. The fossil fuels used were coal (48.5 percent), petroleum (21.6 percent), natural gas (1.6 percent) and other gases (0.3 percent).ResidentialFossil fuels are also used directly for heating homes and cooking. According to government statistics, 92 percent of direct energy use in homes in 2007 was provided by fossil fuels.TransportationFossil fuels provided 98 percent of the total energy in the transportation sector in 2007. The vast majorit
