The Historic Uses of Energy Sources in the U.S. During the Latter Part of the 20th Century
You have been asked to create a visual about the historic uses of various energy sources in the U.S. during the latter part of the 20th century.
1. Create a visual most appropriate for a semi-technical audience (engineers but also some managers at the company who are technically adept but are not engineers).
2. Describe your assumptions about this audience and explain why you selected the type of visuals as most effective for these readers.
3. Include with the visual a caption that interprets and explains the data.
Data: Assume that the Department of Energy breaks down energy consumption in the United States (by source) into these percentages:
• In 1970, coal, 18.5; natural gas, 32.8; hydro and geothermal, 3.1; nuclear, 1.2; oil, 44.4.
• In 1980, coal, 20.3; natural gas, 26.9; hydro and geothermal, 3.8; nuclear, 4.0; oil, 45.0.
• In 1990, coal, 23.5; natural gas, 23.8; hydro and geothermal, 7.3; nuclear, 4.1; oil, 41.3.
• In 2000, coal, 20.3; natural gas, 25.2; hydro and geothermal, 9.6; nuclear, 6.3; oil, 36.6.
The Historic Uses of Energy Sources in the U.S. During the Latter Part of the 20th Century
Energy Consumption in the U.S.
Assumptions about the Audience
For this visual, the target audience consists of semi-technical individuals, including engineers and technically adept managers, who have a good understanding of energy sources and consumption. They are familiar with technical terminology and concepts but may not have an in-depth knowledge of the specific data being presented. Therefore, the visual needs to strike a balance between technical accuracy and accessibility.
Visual Selection
To effectively convey the historic uses of energy sources in the U.S., a stacked area chart is chosen as the most appropriate visual representation. This type of chart allows for clear visualization of trends and changes over time, while also providing a breakdown of individual energy sources. The stacked area chart is visually engaging and provides a more comprehensive view of the data compared to other options such as a bar chart or line graph.
The use of different colors for each energy source helps distinguish them and makes it easier for the audience to interpret the data. The areas are stacked on top of each other, representing the total energy consumption over time.
Caption Interpretation and Explanation
The caption for the visual would interpret and explain the data as follows:
“Energy Consumption in the United States from 1970 to 2000”
This visual represents the historic uses of energy sources in the United States during the latter part of the 20th century. The chart shows the percentage breakdown of energy consumption by source over four decades: 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000.
From 1970 to 2000, there were notable changes in the distribution of energy sources. Coal and oil were consistently significant contributors to energy consumption throughout this period, although their percentages fluctuated. Natural gas maintained a significant share, while hydro and geothermal energy remained relatively stable.
One notable trend is the decline in oil consumption over time, dropping from 44.4% in 1970 to 36.6% in 2000. This decrease can be attributed to factors such as increasing concerns about environmental impact, rising oil prices, and efforts to diversify energy sources.
Meanwhile, nuclear power experienced a gradual increase in its share from 1.2% in 1970 to 6.3% in 2000. This growth can be attributed to its perceived reliability and low carbon emissions compared to other sources.
Overall, this visual illustrates how energy consumption patterns have evolved over time in the United States, highlighting both the stability and changes in the utilization of different energy sources.”
By presenting this information through a visually appealing and easily interpretable format, this visual can effectively communicate the historic uses of energy sources to our semi-technical audience, facilitating their understanding and engagement with the subject matter.