Those old enough to remember the gas shortages of the 1970s will understand what could happen if we ran out of fossil fuels with no viable alternative. Today, fossil fuel reserves are increasingly difficult to extract and are of lower quality and insufficient volume to meet global demand. Concerns about fossil fuels and their effects on the environment are becoming increasingly important. So how can the United States reduce its dependence on fossil fuels? To truly solve the problem, it will be necessary to change much of our infrastructure as well as our daily practices around transportation, food and electricity. Transportation will need to change both in the way we use it and the type of fuel used. are used. Food production, storage and transportation will all need to be changed. Electricity will also need to be changed, both in the way it is produced and in the way we use it on a daily basis. When most people think of fossil fuel use, they think of personal transportation. There are many ways to reduce your transport-related energy consumption. For short distances, walking and cycling are healthy alternatives to using a fossil fuel vehicle. In many areas, public transportation may also be an option. Electric cars are also an effective alternative in the right areas. The biggest problem with electric cars is the ability to recharge the vehicle away from home. Another problem with these vehicles is their limited range. Buying a diesel car to reduce your dependence on fossil fuels is another alternative. Diesels can run on biodiesel fuels or entirely on non-fossil fuel ingredients. Most diesel engines require little or no mechanical conversion to run on biodiesel fuel, which is increasingly readily available at gas stations across...... middle of paper ......work. Changes in how we grow and transport our food will also help. Reducing our electricity consumption while reducing the source of electricity will also provide huge benefits. There are many other areas where improvements could be made, but I believe these areas would have the greatest impact on reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. /www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2013/12/27/incandescent-light-bulbs-phaseout-leds/4217009/Encouraging Renewable Energy, retrieved from http://www.nwf.org/What -We-Do/Energy-and-Climate/Renewable-Energy.aspxWood Stoves, nd, retrieved from http://www.forgreenheat.org/technology/wood_stoves.htmlBurn Wise; Learn Before You Burn, January 2014, retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/index.html