Eco-Nudging: Interactive Digital Design to Solicit Immediate Energy Actions in The Built Space

Abstract

In the built space, building occupants, their behaviours and control actions are research areas that have gained a lot of attention. This is well justified since energy behaviours can result in differences of up to 25% in building energy consumption. Previous research recommends exploring ways to influence occupants' energy behaviour – through eco-feedback and by directly engaging occupants with building controls. Very little attention has been given to the role digital art and design can play in soliciting and changing human energy-related actions and behaviours in the built space. This paper proposes a new process that combines eco-feedback, gamification, and ecological digital art to trigger occupants to take immediate and precise control actions in the built space. We design, deploy and test this by creating an immersive human-building-interaction apparatus, which we place in a month-long exhibition. This experimental interface was informed by a novel vision for engagement-based human-building interactions deeply rooted in aesthetics, digital art and design. It also uses digital art to mediate between the occupants and energy-performance of spaces by redefining their relationship with and perception of energy – moving from metrics and quantities understanding to one that is art and emotion-based. The analysis reveals that this new type of human-engagement-based interactive building-control mechanism can add a significant layer of influence on energy-related actions – without revoking the individuals' ability to control their environment. It also highlights digital design and art's power in guiding actions and interactions with the built space

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