Assessment of Utilizing Mobile App in Delivering Eco-Feedback Information for Building Energy Conservation

Researchers have developed various eco-feedback systems that aim at reshaping energy consumption behaviors of building occupants for energy conservation. Different technologies have been used to build the interface of eco-feedback systems through eco-feedback information is delivered. One emerging technology that has been envisioned for this purpose but rarely tested in practice is mobile app. This study aims to examine the possibility of utilizing mobile app in eco-feedback system, and assess its effectiveness by benchmarking it against website, which has been proven in prior research an effective interface of eco-feedback systems. Two eco-feedback systems were developed in this study, which were implemented in three student dormitories on a university campus. One system used a mobile app-based interface, and the other used a web-based interface. Experiment participants were divided into two groups, and provided by one of the two systems, respectively. Experiment results showed that the mobile app-based interface led to more intensive engagement of the participants with the eco-feedback system than the website-based interface, and was more effective in positively reshaping participants’ energy consumption behaviors. The results suggested that mobile app technology provides a promising alternative for eco-feedback system interface design, and can further improve the effectiveness of eco-feedback systems in achieving energy conservation.