The Effectiveness of Comparative (Eco-) Feedback on Domestic Energy Consumption

Research Grant

QUT Strategic Links with Industry

2009 – 2010

Abstract

This research project explores the effectiveness of different types of comparative feedback on domestic energy consumption through a mobile application based on the Google Android platform. The design relies on the premise that information visualization, competitiveness, social pressure and recognition have considerable influence on pro-environmental behaviour. Tailored to the preferences of the users, the application enables them to review and compare their own energy consumption data and statistical data about neighbours and Facebook friends, thus motivating behavioural change through competition and fostering friendly discussion about energy conservation. More specifically, the research questions guiding this study are:

1. In what ways are the representatives of a particular lifestyle group motivated by comparative feedback?

2. How can online social networks be employed to foster domestic energy conservation through meaningful comparative feedback?

3. What new opportunities does the increased mobility (through use of mobile devices as energy monitors) offer in comparison to static energy monitors? More specifically, how do people engage with energy data while on the go?

EnergyWiz Description

EnergyWiz is a mobile application based on the Android platform which aims at providing you real-time data about your energy consumption. It connects to a smart meter at your home, retrieves the energy data and sends it to your smart phone, thus making the information available at your finger tips.

In addition to this basic feature, the EnergyWiz application allows you to see aggregated energy data over time and compare your energy use with your neighbours, your Facebook friends and the users of the EnergyWiz community.

An upcoming new college competition version of EnergyWiz

Team

Partners

Climate Smart Home Service Program of the Queensland Government

National ICT Australia

Presentations

  • Invited Presentation at Google Developer Day Germany, Munich, November 2010
  • Top 10 Most Innovative Mobile Applications at the “Mobile Communications – Technologies, Markets, Applications” Conference, Berlin, January 2011
  • GI (Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V.) Top 100 Student Computer Science Theses in Germany, Bonn, March 2011

Publications

Petkov, P., Köbler, F., Foth, M., & Krcmar, H. (2011, Jun 29 – Jul 2). Motivating Domestic Energy Conservation through Comparative, Community-Based Feedback in Mobile and Social Media. In Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Communities & Technologies (C&T). Brisbane, Queensland. (eprints >)

Petkov, P., Köbler, F., Foth, M., Medland, R., & Krcmar, H. (2011, May 7-12). Engaging Energy Saving through Motivation-Specific Social Comparison. In Proceedings of the 29th Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI). Vancouver, Canada. (eprints >)

Medland, R., Foth, M., & Petkov, P. (2011). Connecting People and Resource Consumption in Real Time. IEEE Pervasive Computing, 10(1), 63-65. (eprints >)

Foth, M., Paulos, E., Satchell, C., & Dourish, P. (2009). Pervasive Computing and Environmental Sustainability: Two Conference Workshops. IEEE Pervasive Computing, 8(1), 78-81. (eprints >)