Abstract
With smart electricity meters being widely deployed, data on residential energy usage is increasingly becoming available. To make sensible use of these data, we investigated the suitability of mobile phones as an interface to provide feedback on overall and device-related energy consumption. Based on the results of a user survey, we implemented the most highly valued feedback features on an iPhone that communicates with a smart meter. In a follow-up user study, we evaluated how users perceive the experience of such energy consumption feedback and how they rate the importance of different functionalities. Our work confirms the suitability of energy feedback delivered on a mobile phone. It outlines that a clear and easy to explain use case scenario is key and that knowledge-increasing functionalities as well as those functionalities from which monetary savings can be directly implied are perceived as most important. To address technophobe users, action-guiding feedback that goes beyond displaying aggregated information is required.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Abrahamse, W., Steg, L., Vlek, C., Rothengatter, T.: A review of intervention studies aimed at household energy conservation. J. of Environmental Psychology 25(3), 273–291 (2005)
Adelmann, R.: Mobile Phone Based Interaction with Everyday Products on the Go. In: Proc. NGMAST 2007 (2007)
Baecker, O., Ippisch, T., Michahelles, F., Roth, S., Fleisch, E.: Mobile claims assistance. In: Proc. MUM 2009 (2009)
Björkskog, C., Jacucci, G., Lorentin, B., Gamberini, L.: Mobile implementation of a web 3D carousel with touch input. In: Proc. MobileHCI 2009 (2009)
Chetty, M., Tran, D., Grinter, R.: Getting to green: understanding resource consumption in the home. In: Proc. UbiComp 2008 (2008)
Darby, S.: The effectiveness of feedback on energy consumption. A review for DEFRA of the literature on metering, billing, and direct displays (2006)
Davis, F.D.: Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly 13(3), 319–340 (1989)
Fielding, R., Taylor, R.: Principled Design of the Modern Web Architecture. ACM Trans. Internet Technology 2(2), 115–150 (2002)
Fischer, C.: Feedback on household electricity consumption: a tool for saving energy? Energy Efficiency 1(1), 79–104 (2008)
Froehlich, J., Dillahunt, T., Klasnja, P., Mankoff, J., Consolvo, S., Harrison, B., Landay, J.A.: UbiGreen: investigat-ing a mobile tool for tracking and supporting green transpor-tation habits. In: Proc. CHI 2009 (2009)
Froehlich, J., Everitt, K., Fogarty, J., Patel, S., Landay, J.: Sensing opportunities for personalized feedback technology to reduce consumption. In: Proc. CHI Workshop on Defining the Role of HCI in the Challenge of Sustainability (2009)
Geller, E.S., Winett, R.A., Everett, P.B.: Preserving the Environment: New Strategies for Behavior Change. Pergamon Press Inc., Oxford (1982)
Landgren, J., Nulden, U.A.: A study of emergency response work: patterns of mobile phone interaction. In: Proc. CHI 2007 (2007)
Levin, I.P., Schneider, S.L., Gaeth, G.J.: All frames are not created equal: A typology and critical analysis of framing effects. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 76(2), 149–188 (2002)
Lund, A.M.: Measuring Usability with the USE Questionnaire. STC Usability SIG 8(2) (2001)
Mattern, F., Staake, T., Weiss, M.: ICT for Green – How Computers Can Help Us to Conerve Energy. In: Proc. e-Energy 2010 (2010)
Parker, D., Hoak, D., Cummings, J.: Pilot Evaluation of Energy Savings from Residential Energy Demand Feedback Devices. FSEC, Rpt: FSEC-CR-1742-08 (2008)
Petersen, D., Steele, J., Wilkerson, J.: WattBot: a residential electricity monitoring and feedback system. In: Proc. CHI 2009 (2009)
Prudenzi, A.: A neuron nets based procedure for identifying domestic appliances pattern-of-use from energy recordings at meter panel. Proc. IEEE Power Engineering Society Winter Meeting, USA 2, 941–946 (2002)
Van Raaij, W.F., Verhallen, T.M.M.: A behavioral model of residential energy use. J. of Economic Psychology 3(1), 39–63 (1983)
van Rensburg, L.: Energy demand research project: Review of progress 2008. In: TR Ofgem 2009 (2009)
Weiss, M., Graml, T., Staake, T., Mattern, F., Fleisch, E.: Handy feedback: Connecting smart meters with mobile phones. In: Proc. MUM 2009 (2009)
Weiss, M., Guinard, D.: Increasing Energy Awareness Through Web-enabled Power Outlets. In: Proc. MUM 2010 (2010)
Weiss, M., Staake, T., Fleisch, E., Mattern, F.: PowerPedia – A Smartphone Application for Community-based Electricity Consumption Feedback. In: Proc. Smartphone 2010 (2010)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 ICST Institute for Computer Science, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering
About this paper
Cite this paper
Weiss, M., Loock, CM., Staake, T., Mattern, F., Fleisch, E. (2012). Evaluating Mobile Phones as Energy Consumption Feedback Devices. In: Sénac, P., Ott, M., Seneviratne, A. (eds) Mobile and Ubiquitous Systems: Computing, Networking, and Services. MobiQuitous 2010. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, vol 73. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29154-8_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29154-8_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-29153-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-29154-8
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)