Fossil fuel
Fossil fuels are types of non-renewable fuels formed by over millions of years by the anaerobic decomposition of organisms buried beneath or within soil and rock. They are considered to be non-renewable because the rate at which they are currently consumed is far in excess of the rate at which they are naturally replaced, and so they are being rapidly depleted.
Fossil fuels include:
Fossil fuels, contain energy that originated in photosynthesis. They can be burnt in air, or oxygen, to provide heat, which can be used directly, or converted into energy such as electricity. The Industrial Revolution drastically increased the consumption of fossil fuels to the contemporaneous point where levels are widely considered to be unsustainable, hence the drive for large-scale up-take of renewable energy sources.
Types of fossil fuel extraction, such as shale gas, have intensified the debate over whether or not modern and intensive methods should be employed for the further exploitation of non-renewable energy sources.
Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide (and other pollutants) which is a greenhouse gas and so contributes to climate change.
NB Climate Emergency Design Guide: How new buildings can meet UK climate change targets, published by the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) in January 2020, defines a fossil fuel as: 'A natural fuel such as petroleum, coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms. The burning of fossil fuels by humans is the largest source of emissions of carbon dioxide, which is one of the greenhouse gases that allows radiative forcing and contributes to global warming.'
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Biomass.
- Carbon capture and storage.
- Coal usage for electricity generation to end by October 2024.
- Electric vehicles.
- Energy.
- Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
- Mains gas.
- Natural gas.
- Not a choice between renewables and nuclear - we need both.
- Oil - a global perspective.
- Peak oil.
- Phosphorescent building materials.
- Power generation.
- Renewable energy.
- Shale gas.
- Types of fuel.
- Wood pellet mill basics.
Featured articles and news
Licensing construction in the UK
As the latest report and proposal to licence builders reaches Parliament.
Building Safety Alliance golden thread guidance
Extensive excel checklist of information with guidance document freely accessible.
Fair Payment Code and other payment initiatives
For fair and late payments, need to work together to add value.
Pre-planning delivery programmes and delay penalties
Proposed for housebuilders in government reform: Speeding Up Build Out.
High street health: converting a building for healthcare uses
The benefits of health centres acting as new anchor sites in the high street.
The Remarkable Pinwill Sisters: from ‘lady woodcarvers’ to professionals. Book review.
Skills gap and investment returns on apprenticeships
ECA welcomes new reports from JTL Training and The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership.
Committee report criticises UK retrofit schemes
CIOB responds to UK’s Energy Security and Net Zero Committee report.
Design and construction industry podcasts
Professional development, practice, the pandemic, platforms and podcasts. Have we missed anything?
C20 Society; Buildings at Risk List 2025
10 more buildings published with updates on the past decade of buildings featured.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certifications consultation
Summary of government consultation, closing 11 June 2025.
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
From project managers to rising stars, sustainability pioneers and more.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.