Visualization of energy consumption: Motivating for a sustainable behaviour through social media

Abstract

This paper presents a design solution for a mobile application inspired by eco-visualization, suggesting a visualization of real time energy consumption of a household. The aspiration of this paper is to explore a solution that may influence individual users to a more sustainable behaviour by combining data collected from advanced measurement instruments, together with social media. By creating a low fidelity prototype incorporating the idea of social media, collaboration, competition and eco-visualization, the paper aims to assess the users reaction and sentiment towards an unconventional visualization of energy consumption, collaboration for creating art and competing amongst other participants in a social network to lower the users energy consumption. An evaluation of the prototype design shows two interesting results: the need for flexible and individual feedback as well as positive feedback for collaborative art approach.