UBIQUE

Maps can often provide a better way to visualize a problem rather than a simple description. With regards to our Geography 2050 symposium this year, “Powering Our Future Planet,” this interactive map does a great job using color to represent the estimated total annual building energy consumption in New York City. Colors inherently invoke different emotions – red can represent danger or high intensity, while yellow may represent lower intensity or amount. Color can be used to make it easier for readers to understand the concept a map is trying to convey.

As a part of a National Science Foundation- (NSF) funded research project by the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University, this map represents the estimated energy usage of each city block or lot. The map assigns a color based on how much electricity is spent per square meter – darker colors indicate that a building consumes more energy to power the area. Users can interact with the map by clicking on any block or lot; additional information pops up with the estimated electricity usage, total fuel use, and land area – complemented by an illustrative pie chart that shows the breakdown of the energy consumption, allowing users to observe and reflect on the energy efficiency in their area. We can see that the distribution of the colors aligns with where commercial and residential areas are – the former consumes much more energy than the latter.

Why is it so crucial to understand a city block’s total energy usage? For one, the amount of energy consumption is directly related to energy efficiency. Higher energy efficiency means more money saved and less harm to the environment, a win-win situation. Another major factor is sustainability; energy use produces and releases carbon dioxide – among other greenhouse gases emissions – into the atmosphere. The United States remains the second largest country for non-renewable energy consumption in 2017. Acknowledging energy consumption is the first step to saving energy, the environment and ultimately money.

Maps are often an alternative way to explain certain issues. Here, we can see that data, presented as a map using color, rather than as a table, tells a story and better illustrates the density and distribution of energy use. At a glance, a color-coded map is much easier to understand than scrolling through an endless list of information for every city block to find what you are looking for. Users only need to point and click on the map to acquire the information they seek. This is when we thank our cartographers – maps definitely make life easier!

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