Residential Energy Use And Conservation Actions PDF Download

It is well understood that the world energy supplies are being depleted and increasing demand is having a great impact on the environment. The consequent increase on prices and eventual shortages lead to a growing number of individuals who try to seek out ways to use energy more wisely. Nevertheless, the consumer's perception of energy conservation actions results are very inaccurate. Consumer oriented Energy Consumption Display have increasingly become an area of research and development, but there is still a need for investigation on its application in user-oriented products. In this document, we investigate how to develop, from a product and interaction design standpoint, appliances that will give feedback related to energy consumption. The study focused on one specific product, the room air conditioning. The goal was to provide information that would stimulate more efficient use of the air conditioner. Information from many fields informed the development of this product. It includes literature on: (a) the current technology related to air conditioner and other appliances, (b) usability issues, (c) products that already give feedback on consumption and (d) human behavior. Initial concepts were presented to focus groups, along with scenarios. The results from the generative research served as basis for a refined Product Requirements list. The final product includes the interface developed for the air conditioner and a few possible applications. The study generates material that can be applied to other products that consume energy in addition to the air conditioner used in the study. Consumers will not only make decisions on purchases based on efficiency but also change their habits so as to better conserve, bringing us closer to a sustainable energy use, if they are able to have consumption feedback on each appliance.