Globally, what is the commercial and residential use and reliance on oil - Research Paper Example

Globally, what is the commercial and residential use and reliance on oil? Since the discovery of mass oil deposits, the world economy has moved fromreliance on coal to oil which is more portable. Oil can be mined, transported, and used easily and economically compared to coal which has been used since the beginning of industrialization. After the Second World War, oil became a reliable source of domestic and commercial energy across the world. Oil has a wide range of applications in residential and commercial settings.

Gasoline is used to power automobiles and aircrafts with piston engine. This use contributes to about 43.4% of oil used in commercial and residential operations (U.S. Department of Energy, 2008). Distillate fuel oils which include diesel fuel and home heating oil have a wide range of applications. They are used as fuel in diesel engines, electrical power generation, railroad engines, and agricultural machinery. Distillate fuel oils make up about 23.5% of all oils used in the U.S. (U.S. Department of Energy, 2008).

Kerosene-type jet fuel is used in aircraft engines powered by turbines and contributes to 9.2% of total oil and oil products used in the U.S. The manufacture of electrodes and chemical products involves the use of petroleum coke as a raw material. This oil product is produced as a residue from oil distillation process in oil refineries. Petroleum coke is also used to generate heat in steel industry ovens (U.S. Department of Energy, 2008). This accounts for 4.9% of oil used in the global market.

Refining process also produces residual fuel oil which is a heavy fuel used in shipping, factories, and for the generation of electric power. Residual fuel oil accounts for 3.8% of all oil uses in all sectors of the global economy (Duggan-Haas et al, 2011). The heaviest residual in the oil refineries called bitumen is used in various constructions in works such as playgrounds, highways, sidewalks and roads. Petrochemicals used in the manufacture of synthetic goods are also manufactured using oil as the raw material.

Moving parts of machines wear out due to friction. Oil lubricants such as grease are used in moving parts of engines, machines, and equipment (U.S. Department of Energy 2008). Most of domestic lighting and heating uses kerosene as fuel. Kerosene is one of the lightest products from the oil refinery process. Other products of oils refining process such as olefins, methane, and ethane among others are used in petrochemical manufacturing. They are used in domestic gas cookers and other gas tanks.

Currently fossil fuels and natural gas contribute 87 percent of all global sources of energy (Hardesty, 2013). Oil alone contributes about 33 percent of this quantity. This clearly indicates that the world economy is over reliant on oil. Most of industries use oil as a source of energy (Hardesty, 2013). Automobiles that facilitate transportation of goods and services rely on oil. Hydroelectric power generated in all corners of the world is not enough for domestic and residential uses. Oil has, therefore, been used as a supplement to hydroelectric power (Duggan-Haas et al, 2011).

Some power plants also use oil to generate additional electric power. Domestic lighting and heating rely on oil as the source of energy (Hardesty, 2013). Oil and other fossil fuels have been blamed for causing global warming. The world economy has, however, not found solutions to this problem due to the absence of fossil fuel substitutes. This shows that commercial and residential sectors are over reliant on oil as a source of energy. Oil has got a lot of uses in the modern world. It is the most used source of energy in both commercial and residential sectors.

Use of oil and other fossil fuels is contributing to global warming. This calls for all stakeholders in global economy to join hands and get alternative for oil. This will be the only way to reduce over reliance on oil.Works CitedDuggan-Haas, Don and the PRI Marcellus Shale Team (2011). Sources and Uses of Energy: A brief overview. Retrieved March 23, 2014 https://www.museumoftheearth.org/files/marcellus/Marcellus_issue11.pdfHardesty, L. (2013) Fossil Fuels Dominate Global Energy Consumption.

Retrieved March 23, 2014 http://www.energymanagertoday.com/fossil-fuels-dominate-global-energy-consumption-096446/U.S. Department of Energy (2008). How the US Uses Oil. Adapted from Annual Energy Outlook. Retrieved March 23, 2014 http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=001797