Findings from the DUALL Project: lessons in engaging building users in energy reduction in a UK University
Date
2011-06
Authors
Bull, R.
Brown, Neil
Faruk, Farhan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
ISSN
DOI
Volume Title
Publisher
ECEEE
Peer reviewed
Yes
Abstract
DUALL (an acronym for ‘Deliberative User Approach to the
Living Lab’), funded by JISC’s Greening ICT programme1 in
the UK, is a 12-month project developing a socio-technical,
deliberative approach enabling users of a large-scale, publicsector
building to understand the potential for ICT to reduce
energy consumption. There is an increasing trend towards
‘smart’ meters and display tools showing people (mainly domestic
users) their real-time energy consumption. This is predicated
on the assumption that this information will affect their
behaviour. Yet, it is widely accepted that information provision
alone is inadequate for affecting long-term behaviour change
and rarely manifests itself in measurable behaviour change and
social learning. Academics have identified the need for a different
approach recognising the complexity of user perceptions
and understandings; the importance of combining a bottom-up
and top-down approach in order to minimise mixed messages;
and the value of public engagement.
DUALL has employed these principles of public engagement
to the design of a feedback tool for building-users in a workplace
context. This paper shows the difficulties in attempting
1. ‘JISC’ (the acronym once stood for ‘Joint Information Systems Committee’, it is
now their name) JISC inspires UK colleges and universities in the innovative use
of digital technologies, helping to maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in
education. Further information about their Greening ICT programme can be found
here: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/greeningict.aspx
workplace ‘user-engagement’ in ICT-based energy reduction
initiatives, reflects on the complexities of workplace energy
reduction and presents empirical findings on the potential for
achieving significant reductions in energy consumption in the
workplace through
Description
Keywords
public engagement, behaviour change, greening ict, energy visualisation
Citation
Bull, R., Brown, N. and Faruk, F. (2011) Findings from the DUALL Project: lessons in engaging building users in energy reduction in a UK University. ECEEE 2011 Summer Study: Energy efficiency first : The foundation of a low-carbon society.
Research Institute
Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD)