How Do You Use Non-Renewable?

What are non-renewable resources?

Non-renewable resources are natural resources that cannot be readily replenished by natural processes at a rate comparable to their consumption. Once depleted, non-renewable resources take thousands or even millions of years to replenish naturally.

The most prominent examples of non-renewable resources are fossil fuels, including oil, natural gas, and coal. These energy sources are formed from the anaerobic decomposition of buried organic materials over the course of millions of years. Other key non-renewable resources include nuclear energy obtained from uranium and other radioactive elements, as well as minerals like gold, copper, aluminum, and iron ore.

Unlike renewable resources such as wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal energy, the world’s supply of non-renewable resources is finite. The extraction and consumption of non-renewables typically cannot exceed their natural rate of formation without risk of depletion.

Why are non-renewables important?

Non-renewable resources like oil, natural gas, and coal are crucial to the global energy mix, providing over 80% of the world’s energy supply according to the International Energy Agency. Many industries rely on fossil fuels to operate, power factories, generate electricity and heat homes.

Access to non-renewable resources has enabled modern technological and industrial advancement. Materials like metals and minerals are used to build infrastructure, electronics, vehicles, and consumer goods. Plastics derived from oil and natural gas have countless everyday applications.

Fossil fuels offer a concentrated, relatively inexpensive source of dense energy, which is why developing nations continue embracing them over alternatives. The global population and economy is accustomed to abundant, affordable energy provided by non-renewables.

However, non-renewable resources require careful management. Extraction can damage habitats and pollute air/water. Fossil fuel emissions contribute to climate change. They’re finite so will deplete if overused. The transition to renewable energy is gaining momentum but still faces challenges. For now, prudently using non-renewables while innovating clean alternatives is key.

Non-renewable energy sources

Non-renewable energy sources play a major role in providing power in today’s modern world. Some of the most important non-renewable energy sources include:

Oil – Oil is a liquid fossil fuel that is found underground and pumped out of oil wells and shale fields. It is refined into various petroleum products like gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and many chemicals. Oil provides about a third of the world’s energy needs.

Natural gas – Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel composed mainly of methane. It is colorless and odorless in its pure form. Natural gas is extracted from underground reservoirs and transported through pipelines. It is used to generate electricity, heat homes, fuel stoves and ovens, and serve as a raw material for fertilizers, chemicals, and plastics.

Coal – Coal is a solid black or brownish fossil fuel that forms underground from buried organic matter. It is mined and burnt as a solid fuel to produce electricity. Coal provides about a quarter of the world’s primary energy needs and generates over 40% of global electricity. However, burning coal emits greenhouse gases.

These non-renewable energy sources are limited in supply and take millions of years to form naturally. Extracting and burning them extensively contributes to climate change and environmental problems. However, they currently meet the bulk of the world’s energy demand due to their high energy density and established infrastructure.

Non-renewable material resources

Non-renewable material resources like metals and minerals are some of the most vital materials used in modern society. These finite natural resources include metals like aluminum, copper, iron, lead, and zinc. They also include industrial minerals like phosphate, potash, limestone, and salt.

Metals are essential for construction, transportation, electricity infrastructure, and consumer products. Aluminum is known for its light weight and conductivity and is used for aircraft, automobiles, beverage cans, and various electronics. Copper’s superior conductivity makes it ideal for wiring and electronics. Iron and steel are the backbone of infrastructure like buildings, bridges, railroads, and vehicles.

Important industrial minerals also provide crucial materials for manufacturing and agriculture. Phosphate rock is used to produce fertilizers needed for high-yield crops. Potash is another key fertilizer ingredient. Limestone is used in concrete and cement, road construction, and iron and steel making. Salt is used for food preservation, water conditioning, highway de-icing, and chlorine production.

These non-renewable material resources cannot be replenished once they are extracted and used. With increasing global population and development, demand continues to grow. Sustainable use, recycling, and minimizing waste are important strategies for ensuring supplies endure into the future.

Consumption and extraction of non-renewables

Non-renewable resources like oil, natural gas, and coal are being rapidly consumed worldwide. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), total world consumption of petroleum averaged over 95 million barrels per day in recent years. Natural gas consumption was over 120 trillion cubic feet in 2020, and coal consumption exceeded 7 billion short tons. The EIA projects continued growth in consumption of all three fossil fuels over the next few decades.

Global extraction rates for key non-renewable materials have also climbed dramatically. The United Nations Environment Programme estimates annual global extraction of primary materials grew from 22 billion tons in 1970 to 70 billion tons in 2010. Materials seeing major extraction increases include fossil fuels, metal ores, sand, gravel, stone, and biomass. Extraction is expected to double again by 2050 under business-as-usual scenarios.

Rising incomes and population growth are key drivers increasing non-renewable resource consumption and extraction. However, experts warn that current usage rates are likely unsustainable. More responsible production and consumption patterns will be needed to ensure sufficient resources remain available for future generations.

Environmental impacts of using non-renewable resources

The extraction and use of non-renewable resources like coal, oil, and natural gas can have major environmental consequences. Burning these fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide that contribute to climate change and pollution that impacts air and water quality. Mining and drilling for resources can also devastate landscapes and habitats.

For example, mountain top removal coal mining involves using explosives to access buried coal seams which destroys forests and pollutes nearby streams. Oil spills from offshore drilling rigs or pipelines contaminate oceans and threaten marine ecosystems. Fracking to access oil and natural gas from shale formations releases methane and requires millions of gallons of chemically treated water that can seep into groundwater.

Even the manufacturing of consumer products and technologies that rely on mined materials like lithium for batteries and rare earth metals for electronics generates toxic waste. As the global population grows and consumes more, demand for non-renewable resources is estimated to rise which could exacerbate environmental degradation.

Transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower could mitigate some of this damage. Conservation strategies like recycling, reducing energy use, and developing energy efficient technologies can also limit our need for mined materials. But finding ways to balance human consumption with environmental protection remains an immense challenge.

Economic considerations

The economics of non-renewable resources is complex, with ongoing debates around supply, demand, and pricing. Some key economic considerations include:

Pricing challenges: Since non-renewables like oil and natural gas are finite in supply, pricing models can be volatile and subject to manipulation. Cartels like OPEC have attempted to control pricing and supply through coordinated actions. Speculation and sudden shifts in demand also impact pricing.

Supply and demand dynamics: Demand continues to rise globally for non-renewable resources like oil, coal, and natural gas. However, supply is ultimately finite, which creates more competition and scarcity as resources deplete. This can lead to price spikes and geopolitical tensions over access to remaining reserves.

Subsidies and tax incentives: Many governments provide subsidies or tax incentives for non-renewable extraction and production. Critics argue this distorts market pricing and provides an unfair advantage over renewable energy sources. But proponents claim subsidies keep prices affordable for consumers.

Infrastructure investments: Extracting and transporting non-renewables requires major investments in infrastructure like pipelines, tankers, rail networks, and storage facilities. These represent sunk costs that create incentives to maximize monetization of resources.

Boom and bust cycles: Areas dependent on non-renewable extraction can suffer boom and bust cycles as resources are exploited and then depleted. Local economies may prosper but then suffer without diversification and transition planning.

Balancing economics with sustainability remains an ongoing challenge for the use of non-renewables. Market forces alone are unlikely to lead to optimal outcomes without government policies and regulations.

Transitioning to renewables

As non-renewable resources like oil, natural gas and coal are being rapidly depleted, there is an increasing focus on transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal. Renewable resources can be replenished naturally and are considered sustainable over the long-term. They also have the advantage of producing little to no greenhouse gas emissions.

Some key renewable energy sources that are gaining traction as alternatives to non-renewables like coal and natural gas include:

• Solar power – Using photovoltaic panels to convert sunlight into electricity
• Wind power – Using wind turbines to generate electricity from kinetic energy in wind
• Hydropower – Generating electricity from flowing water in rivers and streams
• Geothermal – Using heat from the earth’s interior to produce steam to drive turbines
• Biofuels – Producing fuel from organic materials like plants and agricultural waste

For material resources, recycling programs allow materials like metals, glass and plastics to be reused rather than extracting new non-renewable resources. Biodegradable and plant-based materials are also growing as renewable alternatives.

However, transitioning from entrenched non-renewables to renewable energy and materials on a global scale presents many challenges:

• High upfront infrastructure costs for renewable power projects
• Intermittency issues with wind and solar complicating grid integration
• Geographical constraints on where renewables can be deployed
• Technological limitations of energy storage to overcome intermittency
• Overcoming powerful lobbying efforts from non-renewable industries
• Getting government policy to provide incentives for renewable growth

Despite these difficulties, as costs continue to fall and technology improves, renewable energy is expected to grow substantially in the coming decades. With the right long-term planning and policy support, a successful transition away from polluting non-renewables is achievable.

Conservation strategies

As non-renewable resources are finite and will eventually run out, implementing conservation strategies can help extend their lifespan. There are various methods that can reduce the consumption and improve the efficiency of non-renewable resource usage.

Reducing overall consumption where possible is one of the most direct conservation strategies. This can involve using public transportation instead of driving, turning off lights and electronics when not in use, setting thermostats a few degrees higher in summer and lower in winter, and reducing waste by reusing or repurposing items.

Recycling non-renewable resources allows the raw materials to be reused rather than extracting new materials. Metals like aluminum and steel can be infinitely recycled. Plastics and glass can also be recycled, reducing the need for new petroleum and silica extraction.

Increasing efficiency of non-renewable resource usage through technological advances can drastically reduce the amount needed. This includes improving fuel economy in vehicles, enhancing building insulation, and developing more efficient manufacturing processes and electronics.

Switching to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower for electricity generation conserves non-renewable fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Utilizing bio-based plastics and materials further reduces dependence on fossil fuel feedstocks.

With global population rising, it is imperative that conservation strategies are implemented wherever possible to prolong the availability of finite resources critical to modern civilization.

The future of non-renewable usage

The future outlook for non-renewable resources is complex. On the demand side, population and economic growth are expected to drive continued growth in demand for non-renewable resources like oil, natural gas, coal, and rare earth metals. However, improvements in energy efficiency and conservation, as well as growth in renewable energy sources, could dampen demand growth.

On the supply side, experts disagree about how much recoverable non-renewable resources remain globally. Some argue that technology improvements will enable increased extraction, while others counter that remaining deposits are more difficult and expensive to access. Geopolitical factors also come into play, with trade disputes and nationalist policies potentially constraining supply.

Overall, most projections show non-renewables continuing to play a major role in the global energy mix and material economy for decades to come. However, their long-term viability faces challenges due to depletion, environmental externalities, and increasing cost competition from renewables. Policy measures to incentivize renewables, along with innovation and technological change, will largely determine the speed and scope of the transition beyond non-renewables this century.