Empowering residents of smart grid neighborhoods to achieve energy efficiency

Empowering residents of smart grid neighborhoods to achieve energy efficiency: Increasing fairness in collective action

Muilkens, D.

Van der Meer, J.D. (mentor)
Romero Herrera, N.A. (mentor)

Industrial Design Engineering

Product Innovatie Management

2016-05-26

The purpose of this study was to investigate new ways for residents to contribute to the efficiency of their warm water system in their newly built smart grid neighborhood. In the first part of this thesis, possible new ways for residents to make contributions in their neighborhood were investigated. The design challenge was defined as: Increasing efficiency of the warm water system by reducing peak consumption. The goal was to get residents to shift their warm water consumption in the morning in order to prevent collective peak load. In the second part, is explained why fairness was chosen as a focus and an exploration of fairness in collective goals is described. The findings were translated to design solutions. Finally, a concept is presented: ShowerPower. An app that empowers residents to contribute to the efficiency of their warm water system. It increases engagement of users by increasing a feeling of fairness.

smart grid
energy consumption
empowerment
user interface design
user-centered design

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:869a15f6-59d1-4315-a38c-200a5f28ed41

Campus only

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2016 Muilkens, D.