In order to gather opinions and data, we were all asked to visit a household, observe practices and discuss energy use . This was a chance to investigate behaviours in their own environment and establish what factors we could have an impact on. This is a reallyimportant step towards designing a user centered device that will enhance individual changes in energy consumption. This analysis process will lead to the design of a concrete artefact meant to display natural language advices and trigger the sensitivity of people inducing change in their habits.  

By exchanging with others, many factors were brought to table: habits, style, energy cost, weather, demographics, way of life, etc. None of them alone seems strong enough to provide a real long-term solution. However, some such as the energy efficiency of rented flats seems key to us. Nowadays, people move a lot and depend a lot from the flat the find to rent. The renting market is big and sadly, a lot of it is rather manage as an increase in benefits focus without considering the reduction in energy consumption. What if we could demonstrate to owners that enabling their tenants to reduce their energy consumption by facilitating energy feedback through forms of natural language advices could not only be better for the general energy consumption, but also for the value of the apartment they rent?

With case studies such as these, we come to understand more general concepts that will help us to tackle with sustainability problems. How will people understand that they have a real impact of global way? Demonstrating common habits change, explaining the overall impact, freeing people’s consciences, etc. are general concepts we hopefully will transform into forms. 

We can’t wait to see the coming evolution of this project!

Pablo Molina Alvarez – Student in Industrial Design 

Anabel Boissonneault – Student in interior architecture and environmental design