Can HCI Help Increase People’s Engagement in Sustainable Development? A Case Study on Energy Literacy

Carla Pestana, Luísa Barros, Sabrina Scuri and Mary Barreto
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Carla Pestana: Associação Comercial e Industrial do Funchal, Nova University Lisbon, 1099-085 Lisbon, Portugal
Luísa Barros: Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering, University of Madeira, 9000-072 Funchal, Portugal
Sabrina Scuri: Interactive Technologies Institute, LARSyS, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Mary Barreto: Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering, University of Madeira, 9000-072 Funchal, Portugal

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-23

Abstract: The adoption of energy efficiency practices and increased penetration of renewable energy sources in the power system are estimated to play a key role in the decarbonization of the energy sector, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately fight climate change. To foster energy transition, energy education initiatives should primarily target the citizens and be designed adopting a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach and HCI methodologies. This paper describes how UCD/HCI can inform the design of citizens’ energy education initiatives by presenting a case study—the development of an information platform targeting Madeiran citizens. The article describes the design process, from ideation to prototype and validation. Methods used in each phase (card sorting, semi-structured interviews, brainstorming sessions, think-aloud protocol and surveys) are described. Results of each phase and how they have informed the following steps are presented, together with a detailed description of the resulting information platform and initial results in terms of acceptance and interaction with the system. Our initial results support the hypothesis that adopting an HCI perspective can nurture the development of energy education initiatives targeting citizens, bringing a user-centered approach to the design of such initiatives.

Keywords: human computer interaction; sustainable HCI; user-centered design; energy literacy; energy consumption; energy production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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