Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

BrightDark: A Smartphone App Utilizing e-fotonovela and Text Messages to Increase Energy Conservation Awareness

  • Conference paper
Persuasive Technology (PERSUASIVE 2015)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 9072))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Global energy consumption is rapidly increasing, while natural energy resources are shrinking. Household energy consumption accounts for 22% of total energy consumption in U.S. Almost half of household energy consumption is electricity use. In the U.S., households spent on average $1,419 annually for electricity and it is accountable for over 70% of household CO2 emissions. Households are looking to reduce their electricity consumption. In this paper, we present a novel persuasive approach, by using e-fotonovela (art-based research) and text messages to provide household with a customized motivation and awareness solution to reduce their electricity consumption based on either cost or environmental concern. Findings provide significant results for the efficacy of the customized e-fotonovela and text messages in motivating and raising households’ awareness toward electricity conservation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Outlook (2014), http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/ieo/index.cfm

  2. US EIA: Annual energy review 2011. Energy Inf. Adm. US Dep. Energy Wash. DC Www Eia Doe Govemeuaer (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Steg, L., Gardner, G.T., Stern, P.C.: Environmental problems and human behavior, 2nd edn, p. 371. Pearson Custom Publishing, Boston (2002); ISBN 0-536-68633-5, $57.33; Nickerson, R.S.: Psychology and environmental change, p. 318. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah (2003), ISBN 0-8058-4096-6, $89.95(cloth), $37.50(paper); J. Environ. Psychol. 25, 120–123 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Abrahamse, W., Steg, L., Vlek, C., Rothengatter, T.: A review of intervention studies aimed at household energy conservation. J. Environ. Psychol. 25, 273–291 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cauchon, D.: Household electricity bills skyrocket, http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2011-12-13/electric-bills/51840042/1

  6. Weber, C.L., Matthews, H.S.: Quantifying the global and distributional aspects of American household carbon footprint. Ecol. Econ. 66, 379–391 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Barreto, M.L., Szóstek, A., Karapanos, E., Nunes, N.J., Pereira, L., Quintal, F.: Understanding families’ motivations for sustainable behaviors. Comput. Hum. Behav. 40, 6–15 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. PIER: office plug loads: energy use and opportunities. public interest energy research (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gram-Hanssen, K., Kofod, C., Petersen, K.: Different everyday lives: Different patterns of electricity use. 2004 ACEEE Summer Study Energy Effic. Build., 1–13 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Stokes, L.C., Mildenberger, M., Savan, B., Kolenda, B.: Analyzing barriers to energy conservation in residences and offices: The Rewire program at the University of Toronto. Appl. Environ. Educ. Commun. 11, 88–98 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Petersen, D., Steele, J., Wilkerson, J.: WattBot: A Residential Electricity Moni-toring and Feedback System. In: CHI 2009 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 2847–2852. ACM, New York (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Shiraishi, M., Washio, Y., Takayama, C., Lehdonvirta, V., Kimura, H., Nakajima, T.: Tracking Behavior in Persuasive Apps: Is Sensor-based Detection Always Better Than User Self-reporting? In: CHI 2009 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 4045–4050. ACM, New York (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kirman, B., Linehan, C., Lawson, S., Foster, D., Doughty, M.: There’s a monster in my kitchen: using aversive feedback to motivate behaviour change. In: CHI 2010 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 2685–2694. ACM (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Weiss, M., Mattern, F., Beckel, C.: Smart Energy Consumption feedback–Connecting Smartphones to Smart Meters. ERCIM NEWS 14 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Foster, D., Lawson, S., Blythe, M., Cairns, P.: Wattsup?: Motivating Reductions in Domestic Energy Consumption Using Social Networks. In: Proceedings of the 6th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction: Extending Boundaries, pp. 178–187. ACM, New York (2010)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Kjeldskov, J., Skov, M.B., Paay, J., Pathmanathan, R.: Using mobile phones to support sustainability: a field study of residential electricity consumption. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 2347–2356. ACM (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Fogg, B.: A Behavior Model for Persuasive Design. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Persuasive Technology, pp. 40:1–40:7. ACM, New York (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hevner, A.R., March, S.T., Park, J., Ram, S.: Design Science in Information Systems Research. MIS Q. 28, 75–105 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hevner, A., Chatterjee, S.: Design science research in information systems. Springer (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Geller, E.S.: The challenge of increasing proenvironment behavior. Handb. Environ. Psychol. 525–540 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Unger, J.B., Cabassa, L.J., Molina, G.B., Contreras, S., Baron, M.: Evaluation of a Fotonovela to Increase Depression Knowledge and Reduce Stigma Among Hispanic Adults. J. Immigr. Minor. Health 15, 398–406 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Unger, J.B., Molina, G.B., Baron, M.: Evaluation of sweet temptations, a fotonovela for diabetes education. Hisp. Health Care Int. 7, 145–152 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hernandez, M.Y., Organista, K.C.: Entertainment–education? A fotonovela? A new strategy to improve depression literacy and help-seeking behaviors in at-risk immigrant Latinas. Am. J. Community Psychol. 52, 224–235 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Valle, R., Yamada, A.-M., Matiella, A.C.: Fotonovelas: a health literacy tool for educating Latino older adults about dementia. Clin. Gerontol. 30, 71–88 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Bandura, A., McClelland, D.C.: Social learning theory (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Clift, J.: Energy: Use Less-Save More: 100 Energy-Saving Tips for the Home. Chelsea Green Publishing (2009)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Information Systems and Technology, Claremont Graduate University, 130 E., 9th Street, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA

    Olayan Alharbi & Samir Chatterjee

Authors
  1. Olayan Alharbi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Samir Chatterjee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olayan Alharbi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. IIT Institute of Design, Chicago, USA

    Thomas MacTavish

  2. IIT Institute of Design, Chicago, USA

    Santosh Basapur

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Alharbi, O., Chatterjee, S. (2015). BrightDark: A Smartphone App Utilizing e-fotonovela and Text Messages to Increase Energy Conservation Awareness. In: MacTavish, T., Basapur, S. (eds) Persuasive Technology. PERSUASIVE 2015. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9072. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20306-5_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20306-5_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-20305-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-20306-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation