Co-Design of a Technological Solution for the Promotion of Eco-Responsible Behaviors in Family Homes

Abstract

The design of energy awareness solutions for the residential sector is a popular topic within research and innovation communities, with major industrial players being active in the field; the massive roll-out of smart energy meters in several countries acting as a catalyst factor. However, the majority of existing solutions do not fully meet user requirements, thereby compromising their efficiency on the long term. A wider analysis is required, involving service designers, social sciences, contextual factors, and usability research. The aim of the ECOFAMILIES project presented in this article was to co-design with French families an innovative technological solution for getting a concrete understanding of their household energy use and consumption, and the choices that are available to improve it. The participatory design protocol went through three incremental workshops organized between March and June 2012 with thirty-three volunteers, complemented by a profile questionnaire, an online blog, the use of an eye tracking system and the making of a documentary film. The research contributed to discover the real behaviors, attitudes and needs of these families when it comes to energy efficiency. A new prototype was developed alongside: it features a fully customizable interface with widgets grouped by key topics of interest.