Evaluating Current Systems and Exploring the Potential of Social Networking Platforms to Increase User Engagement with Eco-Feedback Systems

For infrastructure energy efficiency to reach its full potential, new and improved ways for occupants to engage with their energy use are needed. Despite the recent advancements in eco-feedback systems, strategies to increase motivation and user engagement in these systems remain primitive for a number of reasons. Improving the efficiency of user-driven energy conservation actions requires improvements in the delivery of energy consumption feedback, and methods that trigger occupant engagement with infrastructure data within eco-feedback systems. One approach to achieve increased engagement is through integrating feedback solutions with social networking platforms. This will enable feedback systems to address a larger population and to utilize persuasive engagement approaches such as: customized awareness, engagement motivations, and time/location-sensitive alerts. In this paper, we explore potential interactions between the occupants, infrastructure, and eco-feedback systems to examine the relevance of exploiting social media to increase user engagement in energy conservation actions. We examine the applicability and effectiveness of four eco-feedback systems from an occupant engagement perspective and identify gaps in these interactive systems. Finally, we propose a dynamic and interactive approach to feedback to enhance infrastructure energy efficiency.