Bio-Based Plastics in Product Design: The State of the Art and Challenges to Overcome

Replacing fossil-based feedstock with renewable alternatives is a crucial step towards a circular economy. The bio-based plastics currently on the market are predominantly used in single-use applications, with remarkably limited uptake in durable products. This study explores the current state of the art of bio-based plastic use in durable...

Transitioning Together, sparking change towards the energy transition: A handbook on Social Contagion

Having directly observed one of the most rapidly spreading global pandemics, we understand more than ever the power of contagion. In today’s interconnected world, trends originating in one corner, whether it’s a disease, clothing fashion, or an online social media challenge, can swiftly gain momentum on the opposite side of the globe, often...

Shifting from blended to online learning: Students’ and teachers’ perspectives

The Covid-19 outbreak forced many universities across the world to transition from a traditional or blended format to fully online education. This paper presents a case study on the transition to an online education format for a circular design course. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through a survey with 26 students and...

The Impact of Co-Creation on the Design of Circular Product-Service Systems: Learnings from a Case Study with Washing Machines

Designers play an important role in service transformation and the development of product-service systems by applying co-creation methods. This paper presents a case of how we applied co-creation in practice and the impact this has had on developing a circular product-service system. It details the method used in the co-creation process and...

The challenges faced in the reverse logistics of automotive cores: lessons from co-creation with stakeholders.

This paper presents the results of two co-creation sessions with stakeholders in the automotive aftermarket. The sessions were instigated as part of the EU project ReCiPSS to develop a new service to simplify the reverse logistics of automotive cores purposed for remanufacturing. Remanufacturing car parts is a longstanding practice within the...

Co-creating circular product-service systems for long-lasting washing machines

This paper presents the result of a co-creation and context mapping study amongst seventeen washing machines users. The users had widely varying experiences with products offered through alternative ownership models, including three who were active users of a washing machine with pay-per-use or monthly subscription model. Through the co-creation...

ResCoM Design Methodology for Multiple Lifecycle Products

By combining the lessons learned from the four ResCoM industrial cases, a generic methodology was developed for other companies that want to engage in the development of multiple-lifecycle products. This report describes a stepwise approach for developing such products. The approach includes a suite of design tools as well as a practical case...

The circular pathfinder: Development and evaluation of a practice-based tool for selecting circular design strategies

The Circular Pathfinder tool, which provides guidance to companies looking for appropriate circular design strategies, was developed based on OEM (original equipment manufacturer) case studies. Ease of use was one of the main requirements during development of the tool, resulting in a software-based guide that asks a maximum of ten product...

Smart Energy Management for Households - A practical guide for designers, HEMS developers, energy providers, and the building industry

This publication is an extended version of the summary and conclusions of the doctoral thesis ‘Smart Energy Management for Households’. It is specifically intended to give practitioners dealing with HEMS in their day to day profession practical tools to strive to improve the use and effectiveness of HEMS. This booklet gives a concise summation...

Smart energy management for households

The aim of the research presented in this thesis was to infer design-related insights and guidelines to improve the use and effectiveness of home energy management systems (HEMS). This was done through an empirical evaluation of the longitudinal effectiveness of these devices and an exploration of factors that influence their use and...

Insights into the design, use and implementation of home energy management systems

Between 2008 and 2011, three different home energy management systems (HEMS)that give feedback on energy consumption were implemented in households in the Netherlands. Home energy management systems are defined as intermediary devices that can visualise, monitor and/or manage domestic gas and/or electricity consumption. Through a series of...

Assessing the overall life cycle impact of home energy management systems

An ever-increasing body of research explores the effectiveness of Home Energy Management systems (HEMS) in achieving energy savings. To date, however, the overall life cycle impact of the HEMS itself has not been taken into account. Thus, no assessment has been made whether the amount of energy saved (esaved) outweighs the energy needed for...

Insights in using home energy management systems

In an ongoing process, three diverse Home energy management systems (HEMS) have been implemented in the households in the Netherlands. Through a series of questionnaires, interviews, focus groups and usability tests, a wide range of knowledge in being gathered. Because of this broad approach, the insights that are gained are not only limited to...

Home energy monitors: Impact over the medium-term

Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS), e.g. energy monitors, are intermediary products that can visualize, manage, and/or monitor the energy use of other products or whole households. HEMS increasingly receive attention for their role in energy conservation in households. A literature review and a case study examine the mid-term effectiveness ...

Home energy monitors: impact over the medium-term

Smart and usable home energy management systems

This paper reviews research into Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS). These are intermediary products that can visualize, manage, and/or monitor the energy use of other products or whole households. HEMS have lately received increasing attention for their possible role in conserving energy within households. However, an analysis of the problem...

The mediating role of Home Energy Management Systems