Feedback quality and environmentally friendly use of domestic central heating systems

Abstract

The study examined the influence of system-embedded feedback on user behaviour during the environmentally friendly operation of a central heating system. A PC-based simulation, called CHESS, was developed to model the critical features of a central heating system. After having received 30 min of training on the simulation task, 60 participants worked on a series of operational scenarios under different levels of system feedback. In addition to the collection of various performance measures (e.g. energy consumption, energy wastage), a range of user variables was collected (e.g. environmental concern). As hypothesized, the results showed that increased feedback resulted in improved environmentally friendly performance and, more importantly, the specific feedback indicator influenced the type of strategy used to improve human - machine system performance. A major implication is that system designers need to develop feedback indicators that are chiefly influenced by user behaviour and are largely immune to factors that are beyond the user's control (e.g. weather conditions).

Designing for the home: A comparative study of support aids for central heating systems

“…There is other work that also indicates that historical information does not necessarily improve human performance (Palmer et al, 1980). In contrast, in a study providing support to users operating a CHS, it emerged that historical information helped users optimise their system management strategies, resulting in reduced energy consumption (Sauer et al, 2007). The mixed findings from the literature suggest a need for empirical evaluations of the utility of history displays as their effectiveness appears to be dependent on task requirements and situational circumstances.…”

“…Research has indicated a number of circumstances under which command displays have provided benefits, such as high time pressure in a decision-making situation (Sarter and Schroeder, 2001). In the context of the CHS operation, there were indications that some users did not have adequate strategies available to manage the system more energyefficiently although they were aware of their undue energy consumption (Sauer et al, 2007). However, there may also be disadvantages associated with the instructional display.…”

“…A recent study compared different types of embedded system feedback using a computer-based simulation of a CHS (Sauer et al, 2007). The work showed that feedback resulted in improved environmentally friendly performance and that specific characteristics of the feedback indicator influenced the type of strategy used to improve human-machine system performance.…”

“…It can be set-up in different modes to model different system features and task scenarios. CHESS V2.0 represents an enhancement of a previous version of the simulation environment (Sauer et al, 2007), with additional features being provided that support users during system operation. These additional system features are notably predictive display, instructional display, and warning display.…”

Homeward Bound: Ecological Design of Domestic Information Systems

“…The potential for computerizing this information system, for exploring different modes of information presentation and decision support, is of obvious relevance, in terms not only of domestic economics but the broader ecological agenda. 1 Designing for the home poses some unique challenges compared to the design of work-based systems (Sauer et al 2007) . This brings us to the second sense of "bound" in the paper's title: the group of users is characterized by a high level of heterogeneity, without the possibility of selection according to technical competence; moreover, no formal training can be given, and users in effect set their own goals and tasks, with no performance supervision, standards, or systematic feedback.…”