DRAFT!!!

Contact person: Lassi A. Liikkanen, forename.surname(a)hiit.fi

Problem description

Reduction of energy consumption is a societal challenge that requires combination of technical, economical, and social means. So far, energy conservation has focused on new often proprietary technologies and automation, treating users as passive consumers. However, strong evidence suggests that users can adapt actively their behaviour to energy saving with suitable feedback, support, and incentives, reducing significantly and cost-effectively energy use without impacting adversely their comfort.

In emerging research, UIx will investigate the scope of ubiquitous technonogy in increasing the energy awareness. We vision that new state-of-art monitoring technologies in home and office environment could augment awareness, in co-operation with additional data aggregation solutions that provide API:s to create novel applications for raising energy awareness to a new level.

Research questions

This research theme involves primarily user research, but also considers the technology that can help people to gain awareness of their energy consumption patterns and create strategies to promote sustainable use.

Particular research questions include

• Cognitive constraints involved in maintaining energy awereness
• Current practices and strategies in consumer energy conservation
• The possibilities of augmented awereness with the aid of modern technology

to be addressed using a combination of experimental and quasi-experimental field methods, ethnography and laboratory studies.

Projects

The track presents the latest development in Uix activities and new projects related to Energy Awareness will be launched in the beginning of 2008