Energy in the United States - Where We Came From

 

So, you might be asking, Why is there an energy chart in a website about energy-efficient homes?  It is important to see where we have come from energy-wise and where we are going.  The chart below shows fuel use in electricity generation from 1949 to 2013 has evolved.  Back in 1949, coal was 47% of the fuel used in electriclty generation. Hydropower was the second in percentage at about 31%.  Together they represented 78% of the electricity generated.  Oil was used to generate electricity at about 9%.  As time moved forward, we eliminated the use of petroleum in generating electricity.  There was no nuclear power in 1949 and now there is about 20%.  Coal peaked in middle 1990s at about 58% and has moved to 39% as of 2013.  Natural gas increased from about 10% in 1949 to about 30% in 2013.