STUDIO 3 2011TJ Lefebvre

s3281948

Contextual Research into Practice

Design Project

Production and Practices Report

Reflection

Problem SettingAutopsy of Current IssueBasic LCAResolved Concepts

Development PagesPosterPrototypes

LCA JustificationCPMStakeholder MappingResilience FrameworkVisual Instructions for the use and rationale of the product

Contextual Research into

Practice

Problem Setting

The greatest finding of documenting my daily consumption was all the insidious ways that electricity works into your schedule. E.g., the grinding of coffee beans.

Autopsy of Current Issue

SOME FACTS

It is estimated that about 17.5% (156 petajoules or 156,000 million megajoules) of total Victorian energy consumption will be consumed by the residential sector.4

93% of Victoria’s energy resources are non-renewable.5

The demand for energy is increasing. In 2005, energy consumption had doubled since 1973. Current demand for final energy (end user) is growing by an average of 1.6% per year. At this rate, demand

for energy will increase by 50% by 2029-30.6

In March 2008, electricity was the primary energy source throughout Australia (99.9%).7

Household cooking (75% for ovens and 56% for cooktops) and hot water systems (46%) were found to consistently were run primarily by electricity.8

Appliances, heating and cooling and hot water constitute the majority of the greenhouse gas emis-sions from Victorian households’ energy use.9

Most households used electricity as their main source of energy for space heating (35%), followed by gas (31%).10

The average household could cut its electricity bill by at least 10 - 15% by adopting a few simple measures such as turning lights off, having shorter showers and not leaving the television in stand-by

mode, yet survey results show that we think we could cut our bills by only 7.5%.11

Households admit to throwing out $4.6 billion worth of fresh food each year, yet audits of household garbage bins suggest that the true figure could be closer to $8 billion.12

Brown coal generators supply the majority of Victoria’s electricity requirements.13

As a result of Australia’s power generation from brown coal (the world’s most polluting technology), the electricity generated in Victoria is three times as polluting as that in the UK.14

44% of Australia’s total energy consumption is due to coal, while a further 19% is Natural Gas. Com-bined, these fossil fuels make up 3.5 Quadrillion BTUs (British Thermal Units) of energy consumed in

total in 2006.15

And still, ‘Australians seem to live with a contradiction. They express concern about the environment yet live materialistic lifestyles that result in high levels of waste.’3

-Clive Hamilton

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

We’re polluting more than our other Western contemporaries, which means that our needs and wants can use less non-renewable energy (brown coal), despite beliefs that this may lower our comfort levels.

There is a lack of awareness about alternative energy sources.

The main reason given for increased electricity use was lifestyle changes (35%).18

19% do not care.19

How much of this is necessary? If we install the proper kind of insulation, do we need the systems?

Most of the winter heat loss and summer heat gain occurs in the roof or ceiling. Roof and ceiling insulation can save up to 45% on energy con-sumption for heating and cooling.16

1 Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2010, July 30). Energy, Water and Environment Management, 2008-09. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. p. Energy Generation2 Perkins, J. M. (2009, October 28). Energy Resource Depletion and Carbon Emissions Global Projections to 2050. UN Project LINK . Bangkok, Thailand: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research, Melbourne, Australia. p. 53 Hamilton, C., Denniss, R., & Baker, D. (2005). Wasteful Consumption in Australia. TAI (The Australia Institute). TAI. p.134 The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). (2009, July 1). Residential Energy Use. Retrieved March 12, 2011, from Understanding Climate Change: http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/green-house-gas-emissions/residential-energy-use5 Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2010, July 30). Energy, Water and Environment Management, 2008-09. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. p. Energy Generation6 Sustainability Victoria. (2008, July 11). Energy use in Victoria. Retrieved March 12, 2011, from Sustainability Australia: http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/1819-energy-use-in-victoria.asp?intSiteID=47 Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2008, November 11). Environmental Issues: Energy Use and Conservation, Mar 2008. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. p. 378 ibid9 ibid10ibid

The rate of consumption all over the world is a problem; Australia is approaching complete depletion of 93% of our energy resources, which

are non-renewable (coal, coke, coal-by-products and Natural Gas)1, with an estimated 100 years of coal and 50 years left of Natural Gas2.

11 Hamilton, C., Denniss, R., & Baker, D. (2005). Wasteful Consumption in Australia. TAI (The Australia Institute). TAI. p. 2412ibid13 Department of Primary Industries. (2010, December 02). Energy: About Energy: Department of Primary Industries. Retrieved March 14, 2011, from Department of Primary Industries: http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/energy/about14 Seligman, P. (2010). Australian Sustainable Energy – by the numbers. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Melbourne Energy Institute. p. 215 EIA. (2009, September 1). Country Analysis Briefs: Australia. Retrieved March 12, 2011, from US Energy Information Administration: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/Australia/pdf.pdf p. 616 Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2008, November 11). Environmental Issues: Energy Use and Conservation, Mar 2008. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. p. 1117 McGann, M. M. (2010, February 22). The Impact of Energy Price Signals on Low-income Households. Opinion Pieces . Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Melbourne Energy Institute.18 Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2009, June 18). Environmental views and behaviour, 2007-08 (2nd issue). Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. p. Summary of Findings19 ibid20 ibid21 Hamilton, C., Denniss, R., & Baker, D. (2005). Wasteful Consumption in Australia. TAI (The Australia Institute). TAI. p. viii

This indicates a lack of acknowledgement, or understanding.

Are there other ways of cooking? Do we need to cook at home? Is electricity necessary to cook?

$630 million of uneaten take-away food is wasted each year.21

Why isn’t this mandatory?

What is the price of electricity was raised?

Low-income households’ energy use is less efficient because of their greater reliance on mains electricity for heating, cooking and hot water and because of poorer quality appliances, especially for heavy-usage appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. The poorer quality of their housing—no insulation, draughts, little window shading—means that low-income households need to use greater amounts of energy for heating and cooling their homes than higher income households.17

People are too selfish.

33% believe that electricity consumption is already low enough.20

TJ Lefebvres3281948

Studio 3

Basic LCA

Resolved Concepts

Mains Control (website)

Giving easy information access to electricity consumers on choosing sustainable energy providers. This integrated approach would be based on a series of questions to ascertain the best solution and to consequently provide a shortlist of viable options.

P

http://

Solar Heating

A product that significantly reduces electricity usage by installing a mobile solar panel unit that provides dwellings’ heating and cooling facilities with solar power.

P

P

A Visual Feedback Monitor on Electricity Usage

A product that relays information from electricity meters into a digestible format, such as waste indicators. This unit would be integrated into a comparative and social atmosphere to facilitate a competitive attitude toward reducing electricity output.

kW/h

S

Rental Appliance Powering

Borrowed stationary bicycles that store transferred energy, as well as portable packs that can be equipped to the body and bicycles. Under this service, you could rent what equipment you would use during your particular daily or weekly exercise regime to power your own appliances. Failure to complete the energy quota would result in having to return the product and would serve as a motivator to produce one’s own energy.

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Communal Electricity Trading Scheme

A service that allows a community to sign up to a specific scheme that limits the total usage of electricity. Inhabitants can trade electricity with each other within the system and gain financially through trading.

http://

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S

Community Electricity Provider

A community of people who use energy-storing devices to contribute to a Not-for-Profit electricity distribution system. If you participate in the service, then you are contributing to it. Involvement would require limiting electric appliances and reducing electricity use to a quota of achievable community equilibrium.

Design Project:Energy Traders

Development Pages

AT-ONE: actors

Start Divergence ConvergenceThe known actors:

userdata inputcomputer for feedbackcommunityfeedback devicesinterfaceservice serverservice designerrental systemrental objects solar battery charged by kinetic energy mobile solar unit for heating/coolinginterface objectinternetrouter/modem

After seeing the confusion for the user when the service was mapped, looking at a simple structure was necessary. Instead of looking to the ‘business’ for the rental service and other forums for communicating with the community.

It is best that: the main platform and all user-centred aspects of the system be accessed through the interface.

Further more, the interface shouldn’t be sepa-rate to one’s computer as this creates an un-necessarily more complex system.

The rental system is integrated into feedback. If an appliance is using much more than an average, or causing a great increase in usage, then the rental system is available- reducing material input.

Finally, electricity saved can be rolled over and used to buy shares. Prepay amount remains.

Considering the amount of components in the system, it would be ben-eficial to consider a simple system. What if there wasn’t a separate in-terface display? How can the rental system be accessed without having to go through a separate system? How can all facets be streamlined? Is the rental system necessary? Is it plausible that users will sell their electricity usage prior to the end-of-cycle?

Potentially, the rental system can be a more integrated part of the ser-vice where it is only rented if parameters suggest it’s necessity.

How do the users have an uncomplicated view and simple access to a complex system? Can integral parts of the system, that are already pro-vided replace excess product?

Is dematerialisation possible? What if the users govern their own usage and the service doesn’t provide individual appliance feedback? Does the feedback mechanism need to be so involved?

It does not seem like a logical conclusion to de-personalise the service in an era where personal products are the most desirable. The best ap-proach to this problem is to keep separate feedback mechanisms, but re-fine them by looking at the highest appliance use of electricity within an average household and catering for it. A fridge might use the most power, but it must remain on at all times, so the user does not stand to benefit from it’s consumption feedback, instead information might be provided on energy saving refrigerators.

http://

kW/h

de-materialised the list of required material actors. Decided against an

interface object/display. Combined router, camera and CPU

through used phones.

Initially, the rental system was not connected to the main service and there wasn’t a suggestion for rental based on usage

The share concept evolved from a talk with Sophie Gaur where a system of giving back

money was unnecessarily complex and investing in green energy was a better way to utilise and

regulate excess.

The known touchpoints:

webpage registrationmail package with computer and feed back devicesinterface software setupinterfacerental productshelpline (e.g. iiNet)

Start Divergence ConvergenceAll information gathered from the CPU and sent to the service’s server needs to be accessible. Opting-out of the community being able to see your usage is possible.

All usage statistics need to be both percentage and kWh for the community to see how much of a quota is used and what that amounts to. This allows for different prepaid amounts to be available and for the content (feedback data) to be digestible.

The webpage registration (which is likely the second/third touchpoint given that people will hear or see the service first) needs to work in seamlessly with the setup. The website will give information/updated examples as the first step, then the service works in straight away. There should be more than just the website as a touchpoint. So-cial Media should be used in this instance with Twitter and Facebook integrating community feedback and cross-communication.

All communicated data and instructions need to be universally understood.

A user’s experience needs to be exciting, common and any weak points of communication need to be cut. The touchpoints need to work as a whole and be as integrated in the system as every other component.

What does this mean?

The helpline needs to have direct access to all the usage information that the individual CPU units send. This means a secure login and identity protection for the users. This helpline needs to be able to action any of the commands that the user can do at their end. Does this hold the potential of making the interface redundant? Perhaps certain operations need to be conducted by the user, with the helpline walking them through.

When the material package comes in the mail, the instructions need to be as direct and simple as an interface. Are the instructions online as part of a user step-by-step setup? This would inte-grate the whole process and bring the physical and immaterial world together simply.

The feedback devices need to be clearly understood. Pictograms are uni-versal. Given the urban population, language is a barrier and should be overcome with visual indications. This means that feedback labels might be set by users, however this will not translate well as users will have no control means of comparison.

The rental products must arrive in the same way that the CPU arrives with the same instructions and in this case where renting is a subsidised part of the service, a user must pay for shipping.

AT-ONE: touchpoints

http://

kW/h

Didn’t account for SEG, now their forums and installation option are touchpoints

The CPU now processes data and uses 3G/4G to send data to the server, which reflects back to the

user platform

There must be items in stock for sign-up to proceed and the software is embedded in the

website, no longer separate

AT-ONE: offering(brand)

Start Divergencewhat we know:

intelligentinformativeaccessiblecommunitypersonal

The most important aspect of this service is providing relevant and informative information to help reduce the consumption of energy. People need to feel a relation to their consumption in real-time and feel a part of a community. The brand, then, needs to communicate this. Accessible information should be prioritised, as well as community conversation.

So the brand is about connecting people through a common goal and being accessible as service designers.

Should the brand be open-source? Allow users to code their own graphics? Since that information is important, should the graphics matter? Do we just create the community and allow users to approach the service as they see fit?

The focus on community and information still needs to be acces-sible, a service also needs to be intuitive.

This brand needs to be reflected visually, through communication and through experience.

ConvergenceSo the brand should be:

accessible. informative. intuitive. socially-conscious. communal.

trade

traders

e ttradersenergy

This usability is unnecessary and not what drives demand.In addition, the introduction of SEG (where is has it’s own inter-esting info displays is an adequate solution as users wanting thi

usability will have invested into SEG.

AT-ONE: needs

Start Divergence Convergence

easily digestible informationintuitive servicefeedbackeffectivevalue, both financially and socially

infograhics that are clear and universalstreamlined processesaccessible interpretation of dataa ‘conversation’ facilitated in the communityvalue-add for saving energygive users the opportunity to be involved and have continued conversation with the service system.

Easily digestible information is closely related to semiotics. Users can identify with previously-established visual indicators. It’s a good idea to keep within these parameters, while making it brand and service specific. So the information needs to be more than informative, it needs to be understood across a wide variety of contexts and it should be accessible in it’s communication.

The service should be understood without having to read a manual, there should be as little components to the user experience as possible to make the service system clear. It should be streamlined.

The feedback given should make sense straight away. Understanding your personal feedback should make understanding any other user’s feedback easy. There should be comparative feedback information to facilitate a competitive atmosphere.

The service not only needs to make sense, but it’s value proposition needs to cover both the financial and social side. So prepaid electricity means that users can budget for their energy and have real-time indicators on what they’re using. In addition to this, if they use under they’re ‘quota’ at the end of their cycle, the excess money gets put into shares to purchase renewable energy stations. Users have the option to ‘sell’ their electricity to other users through a trading system at a greater price for the convenience. The social value comes from a forum of like-minded people that have the opportunity to communicate and share their energy saving techniques as well as feel like an integral part of the service.

1

2

3

4

I initially had two incentives working in tandem for the system: shares and selling energy. I stopped

the ‘selling energy’ option as it would require the service to have a pool of

money on loan from the energy billing company and this system of

trust wouldn’t work well.

In addition to this, it is better to invest in a better future and fully get behind, and demonstrate the ‘cause’.

AT-ONE: experiences

Start Divergence Convergence

the experience must surprise and delight.

The service must make the user feel good about themselves. Users need emotional bonds and experiences.

The first touchpoint must feel exciting and accurately represent the brand.

An introduction to the community to facilitate conversation and include the new user

suggestions of rental equipment include expenditure against energy saved.

The user needs to feel that the experience is a personal one and it must be positive. When it comes to data, information is friendly if it is digest-ible. The experience should make the user feel as though they are getting something extra out of the system. The experience must be fresh and transparent.

A positive experience might include a gift, information that is relevant, a demonstration on how they are helping and being environmentally-conscious. A great experience might be both tangible and intangible gifts, or more simply, material and immaterial gifts.

The service needs to be good enough to offer these things without being ‘gimmicky’. The first touchpoint needs to surprise the user by feeling posi-tive:

-packaging that’s environmentally friendly and exciting: feels like a gift, like getting a beautiful magazine

-next surprise is the common design when set up happens, reminds the user of the feeling when receiving the package.

-Emotive and friendly language that appeals to the greater community.

-A generated welcome on the forums, interface, to the community when someone signs up. One that immediately encourages conversation. Will make users feel excited to be a part of the system.

-Suggestions that relate personally to the usage of a particular user, i.e. a suggestion to rent something and then to show projected usage friendly, helpful- includes expense of the rental unit and ascertains the worth of the rental in conjunction with expenditure.

Hi!

kW/hSuggestions for the majority of users is now based on usage

comparison and not on specific appliances. Should a user be in a large

excess, they might fill out a questionnaire to ascertain their key

consumption factor.SEG also offers an extra degree of

personal use, should a user want extra information breakdown.

The feed of extra information (from SEG) gives Energy Traders extra information to use should it

expand to more comprehensive suggestions

Stakeholders

service designer and employees

user the social networking community

community of eco-conscious

users

appliances that require electricity,

gas or water

non-renewable energy

providers

renewable energyproviders

I started with only 7 stakeholders, realising the more intricate actors later on, new stakeholder map here

Service SafariA service the provides some of the same online choices and

data mining with suggestions of cheaper airfares and attempts to align user needs with service providers. As a

result, services are more competitive with flight prices.

It feels too commercial, however with all the advertising and the intense colours. It also only focuses on money.

Vodafone’s service provides quite a bit of information. It is complex and feels complex, there is no easy streamlined idea

behind what’s offered, it’s just placed on the screen in categories. What is good is that the bill is the first thing you

see when you log in.

What I take away from this is that an intuitive system needs to understand what the user needs first and foremost. This might be achieved by ascertaining the users highest priority. For example if electricity usage is the most important, then it

should show on ‘start-up’. If it is to be informed on the forums and energy saving techniques, then that should come up first. Each ‘page’ that the user interacts with needs to be simple, while providing an optimal amount of information. This means

that service need to look as uncomplicated as possible.

Customer Journey Map

kW/h

http://

Hi!

potential emotional response

The user’s positivity is likely to drop over time until they receive their package. A way to combat this might be to supply a tracking code so the user knows when their purchase should arrive.

In the set-up stage, a user may find it long or difficult, it is key to make sure that set-up uses commonly-understood platforms.

There might be a potential problem, maybe a feedback device stops working or there is a fault with the package contents. IT issues might be a problem as well. A user may feel distressed during this period, a great way to combat this is a request for a call as part of the interface or online, as well as a number to call if the user has not progressed beyond the material aspects of the system.

This was a very simple view of the users interaction, one of the greatest things that was ironed out was the process for switching to an energy user. The ‘gift’ idea was taken out

as it was redundant. There was no place for shares or the purchase of these shares.

See new customer life cycle:

5 WhysWhy should RFID technology be included in the package?Because it gives the user an added component of personal feedback.

Why does the user need an added component of personal feedback, given the added material impact?Because it will enable the user to be more engaged in their consumption.

Why does the user need that added level of engagement?Because it will potentially engage the user for longer, encouraging a greater commitment to the service system.

Why does the user need a greater commitment to the service system?Because it will a. help make the system function as a relevant unit and b. continue to reduce environment impact of consumption.

Why should the service include gas and water readings?Because it gives a more comprehensive overview of the user’s consumption

Why does it give the user a more comprehensive overview of their consumption?Because they’re natural resources that are being depleted because of their use.

For a brief period of time I entertained the idea of having water and gas as part of the service as well, however, I felt i was strayed from my initial goal and that the added factor would reduce the

chances of a clean outcome. Energy Traders, however, has the chance to grow into these areas over

time.

The extra personal feedback is given by SEG if chosen on sign-up, however, given the usability of the site, I think that having one overall reading for electricity aids in radical behavioural changes by not prescribing appliances to be rated. RFID tags proved to be unreliable in their reach and the technology for converting electromagnetic field into kWhs, while not impossible, requires more technology than initially anticipated. It was scratched.

More on RFID tech:

A Day in the Life

http://

Hi!

The user wakes and checks his computer and his usage, the community forums have a new topic and they interact with the community. The mail arrives later that day at the user’s workplace and it is the mobile solar unit that the user has started to rent as a direct result of a large spike in electricity usage that their old dryer causes.

The user jumps on the forums and has a look at any extra information that people have posted about using this unit.

Before the user goes to bed, he checks his electrical output, and goes quickly to turn off his computer as it is the only thing still on that is not his fridge.

Amount left prepay

Days left (before cycle end)

Subscribed: Community forum topics (choose to follow different topics)

/scroll through

Twitter and #etc(#etc - energy traders community)

“Working with eco insulation to drop below x kwh/month. #etc” - user A

We have a new forum topic: “Re-using coffee” - Energy Trading

sell energy

comparison

buy energy

time

22 shares

kWh

choose parameter from drop down menu. Last 10 hours, last 10 days, last month (this area for choice)

choose parameter from drop down menu. People in same demographic, people winning the least amount of

energy in a group.

recent share developmentthe facts about what the shares are investing in. Thanks to top sponsors.

e t

Ticker tape on new topics: click to read and have option of subscribing

48%

22 days

Suggestions based on usage and information input

I.e. Your heating/cooling unit has been used everyday for the past week. This has caused an average increase in electricity usage by 7%. You could decrease your usage by renting a mobile solar unit that would save you 80% of the current cost to run it.

Youlowest energy consumer

Service Prototypes

My prototyped website. The comparison page sits separately

electricity is no longer bought, it should not be encouraged. If you go over your

quota, a premium is charged

Both Twitter and Facebook setup. Click to try.

amount left prepay monthly average

days left (before cycle end)

sell energy

x kWh +10 kWh

buy energy

choose parameter from drop down menu. Last 10 hours, last 10 days, last month (this area for choice)

choose parameter from drop down menu. People in same demographic, people winning the least amount of

energy in a group.

e t

Ticker tape on new topics: click to read and have option of subscribing

48%

22 days

suggestions based on usage and information input

I.e. Your heating/cooling unit has been used everyday for the past week. This has caused an average increase in electricity usage by 7%. You could decrease your usage by renting a mobile solar unit that would save you 80% of the current cost to run it.

comparison time

kWh

Youlowest energy consumer

percent of electricity

micro-wave

heating/cooling

audio/visual

dryer all other

day/month/time

Service Prototypes

this functionality no longer available through energy traders, but through SEG.

Click for current website:

RFID Research

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Technology-Article.asp?ArtNum=21http://www.parascript.com/company2/ocr.cfmhttp://www.technologyreview.com/InfoTech/17791/?a=fhttp://www.yankodesign.com/2008/01/14/saver-clip-shames-your-electricity-usage/

I initially thought that it would be possible to use passive RFID tags, which do not require a battery, however the range at which they can communicate to the ‘RFID reader’ is a few feet at maximum. Even a passive ultra high frequency RFID (UHF) can only read 3 - 4 meters. So, the feedback devices must be active RFID tags. This means that there should be greater care over how many RFID tags are sent to the user. The best way to deal with this is have the unit price (possibly $20 per unit) and inform the user of this up front that they can have specific feed-back if they choose to purchase it, they pay for the offset as well. There are then suggested power drainers that would most affect the usage of a household, most likely be the audio/visual unit(s), the microwave, the heating/cooling and the refrigerator unit. The package then, could potentially include 3 RFID tags to be used for 3 of these things. Part of set-up would include ‘programming’ these. So, choosing a label/category, and then ‘setting’ each of it’s three modes: off, standby and on. This requires read/write tags that can be programmed through the software sys-tem, making the tags more versatile. Users might choose to order a tag at a later date if they buy an appliance that might make a larger impact on their usage.

RFIDs have the capacity to measure electromagnetic fields and given a formula convert that to kWh. This is po-tentially more helpful than looking at a particular point of high usage and ascertaining whether your appliances were on. Now, a user be able to tell what percentage these appliances are contributing to the electrical usage. The electromagnetic field that electrically-powered appliances emit is enough to recharge the RFIDs’ rechargeable bat-teries, reducing environmental impact.

while this research is correct, there are extra components- such as connectoing the RFID tag to an appliance load wire to read the right electromagnetic field- that make the RFID system unreliable. Even in active RFID tags, the distance

that they can transmit information is greatly varied by material to be travelled through.

Sans RFIDHow would the system work without RFID tags?The user would have a gauge of how much electricity, gas and water they were using, without any form of breakdown. Would users still stand to benefit from this data? If they could only see how much they were using with-out reference to an appliance, would it still be as intelligible? I think there needs to be at least one indicator that lowers usage. If there is no indicator for the amount used, for instance, comparable to one’s fridge, then the data becomes less accessible and accessibility is a part of the brand.

Perhaps instead of devices, there could be feedback from power points. There could be sensors detecting how much electricity is being used and feedback would be differentiated by number, or area. Or both. Living room 2.

I don’t think room usage would work, because it’s easy to rationalise. i.e. Yes, the living room SHOULD be using more power than the bedroom... and nothing would get done.

Working on Design Scenario 1, the service could indeed work around material input, the gamble is whether it would be as effective and whether users would be invested in putting so much time into reading meters.

If emphasis was placed on electricity usage per hour or during certain times, the service might still work and not limit the user to just turning off certain power points (where the RFID was placed). This would encourage user creativity and not limit the ways to reduce electricity usage, forums might potentially be used to a greater advan-tage in this way.

early thinking

Product/Service Breakdown//CPU with integrated RFID reader: to process electricity readings from meter. Readings using five minute in-tervals would be processed as b-a=x, where b is the current kWh and a is the kWh from the last interval period.//active RFID tags (3): rechargeable batteries, circuitry to support conversion of electromagnetic readings to kWhOCR for electricity meter, operates by battery- caters for 3 kinds of meters.//Identical cases that fit the camera and RFIDs (4)//Identical orange case ‘tops’ (3)//Red case top for camera for ease of identificationOnline Interface

---Interesting to note: can people join service without proper OCR equipment? No. Meter reading needs to be regulated. This is the only way pre-paid systems can work.

An average Australian uses 21 gigajoules in their household per year. This equates to 5833.33 kWh a year, which is roughly 486 kWh a month. (About 2.4 tonnes of coal a year... per person).

So: There are prescribed settings for living based on one’s demographic. One household with one person is suggested at 3600 kWh per annum (300kWh a month). Furthermore, were the electricity company to get involved, electric-ity should be charged at a flat, discount rate, and whatever isn’t used [(kWh left over)(flat rate)] MUST be in-vested in green energy.An additional adult (16+) would increase the suggested amount by 50kWh a month, and children- an extra 25 kWh.

If you were a family unit with 2 parents and 2 children, the suggested monthly amount would be 400kWh a month.

If your average usage exceeds this by a large amount, you may choose a higher pre-pay plan at set-up. If you are consistently below the quota by at least 25 kWhs a month, you can choose to downgrade your plan. You will always be compared to people who have the same amount of adults and children in their home, regardless of appliances and forms of heating/cooling. We cannot make concessions for energy usage.

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/7d12b0f6763c78caca257061001cc588/a300c2a2b4e0b91fca2571b000197552!opendocumenthttp://online.unitconverterpro.com/conversion-tables/convert-group/factors.php?cat=energy&unit=0&val=21

interesting that I kept calling it pre-paid when it was a cap plan

You may not choose a higher amount than your demographic. This defeats the pur-

pose. There is no plan downgrade yet incorporated, but it may be a possibility.

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle: ImplementationMaterial output is an RFID reader, battery powered RFIDs and an OCR device(optical character recognition). The first step would be to make all these components as part of a rental system. Not only do you rent extra products, but the core system is a closed system. A deposit is paid on the equipment and the service includes maintenance that is the responsibility of the service. As a result, if a person no longer wishes to be a part of the community, the deposit is returned and parts refurbished to be passed on.

Second, RFID tags can be optional. If a person lacks major electricity output, or doesn’t wish to have a breakdown of specific appliances, the tags are unnecessary. The tags will also be read/write, allowing them to be reconfigured. This encourages a system of sharing. Furthermore, there will be a set amount manufactured. Creating a feel of exclusivity. The community then feels privileged and committed to a cause.

The cases for the RFID tags and RFID reader are all to be made of Nylon 6, a thermoplastic that is durable, has great memory and is completely reus-able.

Being that the RFID readers don’t need to process too much, all items would be sourced as second-hand units and thoroughly tested to maintain product quality. It is possible that one’s own computer becomes the replacement for the proposed CPU, however there would have to be an RFID reader add-on. These RFID readers have the capacity to be wireless, however, and could send the information to the user’s computer. This dematerialises some of the material. The user then downloads the software to decode the binary information being sent via the RFID reader.

The choice to refrain from having a CPU is specifically for material sake. A problem arises from this, though. Does the user’s computer have to be on the whole time for the service to work? The answer is ‘yes’, because the unprocessed data cannot be sent to the service’s server without going through a process-ing unit. So we cannot dematerialise the computer. To reduce the impact of this, old computer units should be sourced and refurbished as small units. Fail safe systems need to be in place in the event that the user loses internet. First: if internet connection is lost, but not local connection, the OCR can still communicate with the CPU, as can the RFID tags. If both connections are lost, this is registered in the CPU. If it happens more than three times, the user loses their eligibility to ‘sell’ electricity, further to that, the electricity provider will be notified to confirm the electrical usage.

http://www.mcdonough.com/writings/promise_nylon.htmhttp://www.alibaba.com/showroom/wireless-rfid-reader.html

component evolved to being one unit: Camera, CPU and router. Nylon6-6 would still be used as

casing to market and communicate the service effectively.

This issue resolved by using 3G network.

Solar Batteries: Plausible? Kinetic Batteries: Plausible?Already in manufacture, the rental equipment provided is already on the market, reducing the requirements of the system. The mobile solar unit has been invented and weighs only 3kgs, the GSR-110B. The service system would allow the renting of these units in scenarios where it’s suggested. These solar batteries are already in circulation in Japan, and as the country rebuilds itself, and loses the need for these items, they can be refurbished and reused in this system.

It is better to rent already existing products. The products that I suggest are the PedalPower+ which allows you to use or store the energy expelled from riding a bike. A way to convert your bike into a generator and giving out compatible/reuasable batteries for this purpose.

The service would also rent nPower PEG which can charge devices by walking or running.

The rental of these objects would serve as a motivator to drop usage, and embrace alternative energy providers.

Batteries aren’t the answer to a pollution-free planet, but with a prevalent amount already in circulation, it is the first step to turning away from grid power and the common misconception that it is simply an amount of money. Creating your own power gives you a sense of ownership over your energy.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/03/retractable-mobile-solar-unit/http://jp.os-worldwide.com/solution/solar/img/gsr-110b_english_leaflet.pdfhttp://npowerpeg.com/personalenergy/personalenergyhttp://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/01/10/ces-2009-npower-peg-charges-your-gadgets-from-the-spring-in-your-step/http://www.envirogadget.com/solar-powered/bicycle-and-solar-energy-charger-system/http://www.pedalpower.com.au/index.htmhttp://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Pedal-Power

Idea Generation

We need a service that reduces energy consumption. If all participants are forced to switch to green energy, how does consumption monitoring aid the cause of reducing nonrenewable energy? There is not enough green energy to support the population, so a greater amount of people can use the system if they can commit to using less energy.

Prepaid electricity gives people a goal and they know how much energy they can use. A user gets close to their limit and they can choose to purchase electricity at a higher price. If a user doesn’t use all their energy, their ‘left over’ energy (or the finance saved) gets invested in a green energy plan and in their name. The other opportunity that a user has is to reduce their energy output by ‘selling’ it in return for extra shares or for profit. If, per cycle, a user chooses to ‘sell’ their energy, they can either choose for a financial gain (if someone needs to purchase it) or it gets invested once the cycle cut-off day arrives. If a user does not wish for immediate financial gain, the can invest it in green energy shares. The contract for these shares would be that the user must stay invested for two years before they could sell their shares. This gives the energy company a chance to properly invest finance in green energy.

So currently, the service involves optional RFID tags and RFID reader, a compulsory (small) CPU with integrated OCR technology and memory to store a month’s worth of data, and a wireless camera. RFID tags and the wireless camera share the same shell, there are optional struts included to increase the distance from the camera to the meter display unit. All casing is made from Nylon 6, all technology is second hand. The software is available online and is downloadable on service purchase. All items are ‘rentals’ as part of the prepay service with an initial deposit paid. The camera (with router, CPU and OCR tech) are

still rented for a deposit, no other data, though.

User can no longer ‘sell’ energy to other users.

What If......paying for electricity was compulsory?

...electricity was subsidised by the government and we paid for it with taxes?

...nonrenewable energy was outlawed?

...we ran out of coal and natural gas?

...green energy was subsidised?

...energy was rationed?

...you were defined by your energy usage?

...your energy usage was made public?

...energy usage became a fad?

...Apple came out with a system for energy conservation?

If paying for electricity was compulsory, one would be forced financially to make use of the service, regardless of whether it made logical sense.

If nonrenewable energy was outlawed, everyone would switch to green energy and there would be a shortage of energy because there are not enough green energy facilities to accommodate all of Australia.

If we ran out of coal and gas, we would be forced to either change our consumption habits or invest greatly (and give up farmland) for green energy.

If green energy was subsidised, many more people that are fiscally minded would switch to a more environmentally sustainable energy source.

If energy was rationed, consumers would develop better consumption habits and in turn, this common knowledge would be shared for the greater good.

If people were defined by their energy usage, there would be a potential social change in behaviour. People would make efforts to see this as a competition.

If energy usage was made public, it would kick-start a competitive atmosphere where, the lower your usage, the more admirable you are. It would be beneficial to add an extension indicator to this, for example, if someone used x amount per day, they might be represented by colours, or hues of colours that range from red to green.

If energy usage became a fad, there would be indicators on social media sites on your usage, as well as an addiction to lowering energy usage.

If Apple applied some brain power to this situation... we might just survive.

I like the idea of having social media icons to increase awareness and kick start a campaign to lower

consumption. I like the idea of rationing energy to encourage better consumption habits.

Design Scenarios1. There needs to be a service aiding the reducing of electricity within a week, how do you do this?

Scrap the material needs. The service would be more user-centred and based on the efforts of the individual. In this scenario, informa-tion on a website would be given to all users on how to read their electricity meter and they would be encouraged to post their reading everyday on a social networking site. All parts of the service would be internet based, where information could be easily compared and public. This would allow development of the service over time. The main mechanism of the service would be competition through com-parison. Each participant would sin-up and commit to reading their meter around the same time each day and slowly develop a ‘port-folio’. Potential extensions of this service would be comparing suburbs (to create a sense of community) and countries. The internet as-pect would help keep the service unlimited in it’s potential and wouldn’t be geographically limited either.

2. There is only one material component allowed as part of the component to reduce environmental impact, how do you do this?

An OCR unit that communicates with your computer over your wireless network and allows a steam of information about your usage over time. This would alert the user to high peaks of usage. Online information/software downloaded would be equipped with ana-lytical tools to decrypt the information. This daily usage would be comparable online and within communities. Again, competition mechanisms could be implemented. This unit, however, would need to accommodate for different kinds of electricity meters. Which is a problem as some (which are power saving) need to be ‘pressed’.

3. You need to provide a lo-fi solution for this problem. How do you do it?

The user engages with his consumption through play/creation. Each day, the user measures their consumption, and based on the read-ing, if they use less they gain more of ‘something’, like building blocks. A rewards system. The design might come with instructions and blocks can only be retrieved to build based on usage. If a user drops his daily kWh usage by 3, then he can use 6 blocks. If he remains the same, he is allowed one block, if he goes above his quota, he must return blocks based on how many extra kWhs he used. If it is 2 kWhs, then he must return 4 blocks. This system is loyalty-based, but nevertheless, invites users to be engaged in consumption issues. The mere presence of the design would bring awareness about the energy issue.

Design Scenarios1. A user has a solar panel and gives back to the grid, how does the service work for them?The service does not yet work for this user. Generally solar panel owners have their own home and do not live in an apartment. The service doesn’t have the capacity to take into account the electricity that a solar panel might feed back into the grid. As such, this is an area for development within the service when it expands out of Melbourne city.

2. What happens if a user loses internet for more than a day?Initially, if a user lost internet, their usage would cease to be recorded. This led to an effort have RAM in the external CPU, increas-ing material need. Furthermore, how would this memory storage system update if the user had the internet down during the last week of the month.

To combat this, the units now have a router- which old data phones are equipped with. This leads the material impact to be even small-er as a single old phone satisfies these requirements. This also strengthens the integrity of the service by eliminating issues where the cam-era communicates with the CPU wirelessly.

3. How does a user productively use the rental system?A user lives in an apartment and a mobile solar unit has been suggested to him. He orders it and receives the lightweight package the following week. Having no balcony, the user open a window, pulls out the solar sheet and hangs it over the window sill. The unit sits comfortably and safely on the floor. When the user comes home from work, he retracts the solar sheet into the unit and moves it to his bathroom where he plugs the hot water service into the unit and after a few minutes, proceeds to have a hot shower.

4. What happens when a CPU breaks down? When the device stops recording data an e-mail is sent to the user, warning that a penalty charge may apply if the situation is not rec-tified in 2 days. The user checks battery and if broken, notifies the service, who in turn notify the energy and billing company. Should this happen three times where no other users are recording faults, the user is warned and may be removed from the service.

Storytelling

John cares about the environment, he is especially aware of the impacts that modern technology has on it, being an engineer. He hears about Energy Trading online and has a look at it. He supports a family and is concerned about paying a set amount. He takes home the figures and compares the direct debit amount to an average on how much he has been paying quarterly. The numbers work out the same and he is interested in ‘signing-up’. He feels unsure about being committed for two years, but, reading the fine print realises that if any of the terms change, that he is free from the contract. Supporting a family requires more energy and of the three thresholds for energy use, based on a series of questions, it is recommended that John choose the highest electricity usage. He compares what he currently uses and understands that to comply he will have to reduce his consumption by about 10% each month. As he is prone to leaving the workshop light on, he believes that little measures will make this up.

Rick has a family and lives in small house with a large garden in Brunswick, he loves his backyard and has a conversation with his friend about the concerns of brown coal and it’s relation to farming. Wanting to make his own contribution, Rick goes to his local li-brary to use the internet and finds some information about Energy Traders. He knows that he doesn’t use much electricity and is keen to support the cause of green energy. Concerned about not paying his bill at the post office, Rick calls the contact number and finds that this is an option. Rick knows that even though he has a family, his electricity usage is low and chooses one of the lowest brackets of energy usage. He puts up signs all around the house to remind family to turn out lights and tracks his electricity usage in his journal.

Gina owns a small business and is shrewdly-aware of the marketing benefits of green-washing. Wanting to use an innovative strategy, she researches new efforts made on the front of effective-energy saving that is also quite public. Finding Energy Savers, Gina contacts them to see whether there is any way that she can promote her use of the service on her business’ social networking sites. Finding that business’ can enter the community, Gina signs up immediately and publicly announces her involvement. She is pleased with the positive feedback.

PersonasJohn 40Lives in NorthcoteEngineer

Has a family, cares about the environment.

Joshua 36Port MelbourneBank Manager

Wants to keep his finances orderly and easy. Likes all his bills to be di-rect debited from specific accounts and hates credit cards. Is acutely aware of how he is charged for en-ergy (an average) and doesn’t like it. Is not invested in the environ-ment. Is invested in a holiday house for retirement.

Rick 55BrunswickGreen Grocer

Is frustrated about environmen-tal issues, worried about crops and farming and the disregard for soil.

Lucy 19FootscrayWaitress/Student

Just moved out of home and is studying. Likes to keep her bills or-ganised and is vaguely aware of environmental issues. Likes to be considered aware and as a trend-setter. Small budget. Share-housing.

Gina 32CBDOwner of a small business

Wants to appear green to help cus-tomers. Looking for innovative ways to show this to drive sales.

Bill 72FrankstonOn a pension

Bill is short on finance in his old age and needs to keep on top. It is easier to cater for electricity when it is not as expensive and he knows how much it will cost. His grand-daughter is a huge environmental activist.

Soo-Ling 28FitzroyDesigner

Born in Asia, now lives in Aus-tralia. Cares about fresh air and finding middle ground on ecological decisions.

Leena 27CBDResearcher

Leena is in Australia for two years on a research assignment. She is appalled that there is no system for battery disposal and is interested in how Australia’s waste system works. She cares about the environment but feels that she cannot do any-thing about it, especially in Aus-tralia

Technology: Prevalent Meters in Australia

EMS2100 Electronic Meter Odometer Round Dial Meter

http://www.simplyenergy.com.au/Tour/Resources/VIC/Meters.aspx

This meter flashes every time a Watt hour is used. A small wireless camera can be placed over the LED and register the light each time it ‘pulses’. This information would be sent over the wireless network to the CPU, where it would be processed and sent to the user’s computer and the service system.

The wireless camera required for the odometer would look much the same, with a wide angle ability to pick up the numbers. Since that low and high peak electricity us-age would be disabled, the camera would only need to read one line.

The wireless camera for the round dial me-ter would be the same as the odometer, the process to decode it would be a more complex program, but nevertheless, still applicable.

The technology required to process the information sent by the camera is available. The most difficult part of information transfer would be the cam-era having enough distance from the panel to read the meter. This could be solved with simple adjustable struts that can attach to either side of the unit.

Camera and RFID tag casing

This is the initial design for the casing of the camera. Now that old phones are to be used, this casing is no

longer applicable.

Casing with battery and camera drawing

Solidworks

CPM: Critical Path Method1. User sign-up online//entering name, address, handle, how many people live in your house, average electric-ity usage-- questionnaire whether RFID tags are needed, credit card/bank account details for service debit and item deposit.2. User signs up/switches to service’s chosen electricity provider and switches to 100% green energy. 3. Energy provider registers new user as part of ‘energy trader’ service.4. Set-up is complete, user downloads software interface.5. Online system registers user details and send out package of CPU, camera, RFID tags and RFID reader.6. Stock of second-hand CPUs, r/w RFID tags and readers checked against database, more ordered if ware house below supply minimum6. User receives package: logs into website database which syncs with computer software and prompts setup beginning with OCR camera tech7. Once camera is on and information recording is confirmed, software setup system prompts next step which is asking whether the user has RFIDs. If yes, then the user programs each of the tags through the software interface which is using the RFID reader to write to them. 8. User places RFID on appliance wire and configures appliance category remotely from computer.9. Repeat step 8 until all RFID tags are set up10. Redirect to main login page11. Generate message on ‘Welcome’ forum to welcome new user to system12. Main page links to user-generated consumption statistics by amount of people.13. Data begins to input. User can look at breakdown if RFID available.14. User participates in forum conversation.15. One month later on a weekday, the user is debited set prepaid amount16. The user learns to reduce consumption and wants to trade his electricity for shares. He is able to chose increments of 20 kWh to trade. Each kWh traded is equal to one share. All shares are equal as there is a flat rate for electricity usage.17. The money electricity saved against the money earned is invested in green energy as per the agreement with the energy provider.18. The user reaches two years of trading and a button becomes available that allows the user to cash out his shares.19. The user no longer has use for the system as they have changed their consumption behaviour. They send the CPU and camera back to Energy Traders and receive their deposit back.

Requirements:credit card

bank accountenergy bill provider collaboration

internetability to switch energy providers (not in a contract

plan)energy provider collaboration

software designerwebsite designer

second hand RFID tags and reader suppliersecond hand CPU provider

FAIL: What if no supply- CPU and RFID, user stuck

with 100% green energy and no stock. User doesn’t switch until receives bundle

If this is the case, then the user could choose not to switch.

Solution:User cannot sign up unless stock available.

Electricity company trust

Bridging softwarecomputer sourcing

power conversion- where does it draw power? Use mobile phones and their battery/charger

Someone comes to stayCan I turn off my public

viewing option?

Nutting out CPM logistics and notes on it

CPM: Manufacture casing changed from CPU, camera and RFID to CPU and camera from phone

combined

Source/Supplierold phones with

camera and 3G/4G connection

Source/SupplierNylon 6-6

FindEnergy Provider

Negotiate flat-kWh- rate and excess flat-rate

find and employ contract lawyers for legal proceeds

find and employ contract lawyers for legal proceeds

Sign a five-year agreement on flat-rate, Green Energy investment,

prepay and shares

Talk to billing company for DD details and excess

processing

Software/Interface Design

outsourced to interaction design company

beta testing of platform resolve bugs standby for launch

bridging softwaredisassembly

tooling company to design mould parts

first samples to be tested

tools adjusted for final iteration

quality assurance/compliance

injection moulded parts

assembly

CPU and camera casing//phone

CPM: Launch Initially the user would install a software package, but to decrease material cost, the website hosts the information and graphics and the

service’s server converts data

User visits live website

chooses basic

User info

Prepay amounts

Switch providers

relay information to energy provider

relay information to energy biller

Sign up

chooses SEGredirect to SEG

payment$700

on-site install

pays deposit for material

receive parts in mail

install

30 day transition period

electricity provider switch

visibility line

Launch service

All social platforms report launch

Website goes live

Write press release for the the service launch and send to publications in

line with Energy Traders

Build momentum through social media by getting platform leaders

on board

Facilitate conversation on forums to disseminate all aspects of the

service

Get media buzz around service by hosting an informal event to entertain

green thinking leaders

CPM: Use casing changed from CPU, camera and RFID to CPU and camera from phone

combined

electricity provider switch

service manages and allocates share division among

user contribution

Social platforms maintain service-to-user

communication

User visits live website

realtime information

projected end of month save/expenditure

electricity used of cap

days left

tailored comparisons

user logs indata sent from camera/

CPU to server, information displayed via website

quota + excess electricity x excess rate direct debit

Other users contribute to SEG forums

amount of electricity saved per user tallied and sent to electricity provider,

totals cross-checked and confirmed.

electricity excess per user calculated in separate file and sent to electricity billing company to debit excess and

prepay amount

amount of electricity limit exceeded tallied and sent to electricity provider to

confirm usage

Initially a platform to be built with the website,

it was better to merge and use SEG forums as

it would increase communication

http:// http://

Hi!

kW/h

SEG

Removed this icon, as the CPU and camera are no longer separate but a

combined unit, due to dematerialisation.

Macro Mapping

Removed this icon, as the mail and gift icon were synonymous. It is not necessary

to name a product a gift.

http://

kW/h

Hi!

i$

SEG

SEG

?

%

?

physical mail

community of people

service network server

a user’s computer

user

smart energy groups user comparison

ET forums

rental items

service phone call

service/service designer

electricity recording more

camera/CPU/router

green energy

decreased consumption

user cap

service suggestion information

money

sign-up

electricity usage

less choose between SEG/ET twitter

facebookquestion on forumsET website

increased consumption

rental system

ET shares

PedalPower rental

Finalised Components

camera and adjustable straps - recycled nylon 6-6 casing: injection mouldedCPU - casing made from nylon 6-6, processing unit and router from recycled mobile phones//bridging software for compatibility

Optional SEG install: see website

software interfaceconverts OCR meter readingfacilitates conversationenables trading

trading system, comprised of:flat rate kWhs300kWh/month per household + 50kWh per additional adult and +25kWh per child1 kWh saved = 1 share

rental systemKill-A-WattMobile Solar UnitPedalPower+ nPower PEG

Late Findings: Fail Points

Major problems, late solutionsRFID technology not viable after a long conversation with Smart Energy GroupsUser’s internet not viable

One of the greatest problems with this design is the mixed research on RFID capability. After a long conversation with one of the technicians of at Smart Energy Groups, we came to the conclusion that RFID tags would need to have direct access to the appliance load wire before (which would require cutting through insulation). This is not viable for a consumer to do. So, the solution for this is to remove the option of having a RFIDs at all. So a user can opt in for Smart Energy Groups’ detailed information system, or the over energy usage. Comparison is still available and a user might document the energy output of appliances (if suggested) by renting a ‘Kill-a-Watt’.

Further to this, should the user’s internet fail - even after data is saved on memory, the service runs a greater risk of losing an energy provider’s trust. So, the information needs to be transmitted on a reliable system (4G or 3G). This would be integrated into the service CPU which can have a router inside. These are prevalent in most mobile phones, which means that used mobile phone CPUs could be used to process and send the required information.

//Liam: Whole reader unit in one place camera with CPU

http://smartenergygroups.com/http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/7657/

Poster

Amount left prepay

Days left (before cycle end)

Subscribed: Community forum topics

Running on empty: more exexercise, less energy//RobinsonC: “I found that...”

Twitter and #etc(#etc - energy traders community)

“Working with eco insulation to drop below 200 kwh/month. #etc” - @selling_something

We have a new forum topic: “Re-using coffee” - @EnergyTrading

sell energy

comparison

buy energy

time

22 shares

kWh

choose parameter from the drop down menu. Last 10 hours, last 10 days, last month (this area for choice)

(choose your parameter from the drop down menu.

eg. similar situation, people winning the least amount of energy

in a demographic group.

recent share developmentthe facts about what the shares are investing in. Thanks to top sponsors.

e t

...New topic: Solar Battery Recycling...

48%

22 days

Suggestions based on usage and information input

I.e. Your heating/cooling unit has been used everyday for the past week. This has caused an average increase in electricity usage by 7%. You could decrease your usage by renting a mobile solar unit that would save you 80% of the current cost to run it.

Youlowest energy consumer

http:// http://

Hi!

kW/h

tradersenergypre-paid energy. simple.

month 1

energy provider switch

http://

i Hi!

http://

i $ SEG SEG

http://

kW/h

http://

Hi!? Hi!?

month 2

$ $

$

% %

?month 3 ≥ 2 years

$ $

share amount

emotion

energy consumption

http://http://

Hi!

kW/h

SEG

Energy Traders is a 100% green electricity cap plan, redeeming your unused kWhs into green energy shares.

user journey

Prototypes

Practice Report

LCA Justification

LCA Justification

Given that 93 percent of Victoria’s energy is non-renewable, and that Energy Traders changes a person’s energy consumption (regardless of amount) from brown coal (93% likely) to 100% green energy, the material input is negligible.

The only material items are a reused mobile phone and Nylon 6-6 casing (which is renewable). At an Australian average of 5,840 kWh annually, (which is .7 tonnes of coal). This negates ener-gy used to produce as each case is recycling material (Nylon 6-6) and the simple injection mould process’ embodied energy would not be greater than .7 tonnes of coal per unit.

User behavioural change is the ultimate goal of the service where, not only is the energy consumed, renewable, but being consumed at a lesser rate, allowing green energy to provide for a greater number of people.

The rental system uses items that are already in circulation. The mobile solar unit has a large battery in it, which is cause for concern. However there are enough already in circulation to use without requiring further manufacture as a result of the recent Japanese tragedy.

http://users.tpg.com.au/users/robkemp/Power/PowerConsumption.htmhttp://www.convertunits.com/from/kWh/to/tonne+of+coal+equivalent

CPM

CPM: Manufacture

Source/Supplierold phones with

camera and 3G/4G connection

Source/SupplierNylon 6-6

FindEnergy Provider

Negotiate flat-kWh- rate and excess flat-rate

find and employ contract lawyers for legal proceeds

find and employ contract lawyers for legal proceeds

Sign a five-year agreement on flat-rate, Green Energy investment,

prepay and shares

Talk to billing company for DD details and excess

processing

Software/Interface Design

outsourced to interaction design company

beta testing of platform resolve bugs standby for launch

bridging softwaredisassembly

tooling company to design mould parts

first samples to be tested

tools adjusted for final iteration

quality assurance/compliance

injection moulded parts

assembly

CPU and camera casing//phone

CPM: Launch

User visits live website

chooses basic

User info

Prepay amounts

Switch providers

relay information to energy provider

relay information to energy biller

Sign up

chooses SEGredirect to SEG

payment$700

on-site install

pays deposit for material

receive parts in mail

install

30 day transition period

electricity provider switch

visibility line

Launch service

All social platforms report launch

Website goes live

Write press release for the the service launch and send to publications in

line with Energy Traders

Build momentum through social media by getting platform leaders

on board

Facilitate conversation on forums to disseminate all aspects of the

service

Get media buzz around service by hosting an informal event to entertain

green thinking leaders

CPM: Use

electricity provider switch

service manages and allocates share division among

user contribution

Social platforms maintain service-to-user

communication

User visits live website

realtime information

projected end of month save/expenditure

electricity used of cap

days left

tailored comparisons

user logs indata sent from camera/

CPU to server, information displayed via website

quota + excess electricity x excess rate direct debit

Other users contribute to SEG forums

amount of electricity saved per user tallied and sent to electricity provider,

totals cross-checked and confirmed.

electricity excess per user calculated in separate file and sent to electricity billing company to debit excess and

prepay amount

amount of electricity limit exceeded tallied and sent to electricity provider to

confirm usage

CPM: End of Life

service manages and allocates share division among

user contribution

Social platforms maintain service-to-user

communication

User visits live websiteselects and requests shares

to redeemuser logs inuser shares experience

online

starts to save up shares again

user receives paymentchecks to see what is available to redeem

service accounts for amount and reduces share pool

billing company transfers amount to user

service notifies energy and billing companies

Other users contribute to SEG forums

Stakeholder Mapping

Stakeholders

service designers users

the social networking community

rental items

appliances that require

electricity

non-renewable energy

providers

renewable energyproviders

students

families

small businesses

trendsetters

eco community

social media users

energy billing companies

arable land

green energy builders

brown coal energy

coal miningappliance

manufacturers

appliance designers financially strappedcoal manufacturing

plants

electricity providers

manufacturing decisions

service design

‘green’ incentive schemescoal investors

http:// kW/hSEG

Smart Energy Groups

phone e-waste phone e-waste electricitydevices

usage itemse-waste companies

e-waste contributors alternative energy

energy storage devices

web development with realtime

web designers

software designers

employees

technology

manufacturers

designers

retail companies

government

policy makers

legislators

Resilience Framework

Resilience Framework: Identifying WeaknessesThe trust between energy provider and service: how can the service ensure that CPU units aren’t disconnected or tampered with?

A penalty for non-readings could be put in place. I.e. as

soon as a meter reader ceases to transmit information, the user

is warned that if this is not rectified within 2 days, that they

will face a penalty charge that is negotiated at contract

signing.

This is problematic when the user is not at fault. If the cas-ing does not allow user access

it requires extra material (spe-cial locks) that is too much of a

material sacrifice. However, a tamper-proof screw could be put

in place. If this is found to be threaded, the user pays a fine, if not the service accounts for the fault in a predetermined way.

What if the user loses internet? How can the system maintain integrity?

If the user loses internet, then the signal sent to the server is

lost along with reliable realtime information. If the

user is guilty of attempting to abuse the system, this is difficult

to ascertain, because internet faults are also common.

To circumvent this issue, the best alternative is to function independently of the users internet. By accessing the

3G/4G system, internet outage is unlikely, and if it does

happen, it is universal and unplanned.

This reduces the ways in which the system can go faulty, strengthening this point.

What if a user has people to stay? How can they stop their points from being damaged?

If a user knows that their elec-tricity usage is going to increase

due to forthcoming circum-stances and they are very con-

scious of their ratings and com-parisons, they might feel that

the service it unfair.

In response, the user may choose to make their profile ‘private’. By doing this, they knowingly

forfeit a chance of earning shares and they do not appear

in the current ranking statistics and comparisons. When the user

re-enters the public sphere, the last three (public) months

support their current statistics.

What if an energy provider breaks a contract?

If an energy provider broke their contract, not only would

user not have their electric-ity flat rate, but they would wouldn’t have an incentive to save kWh and they would

want they invest back. Further to this, for the service to work,

proceedings to find another en-ergy provider would be difficult and the legal agreement would

look different to the previous one, meaning rolling out new terms and conditions to users,

potentially changing prices and resulting in the possible loss of

confidence.

This situation would be best dealt with during initial legal proceedings where the grounds

for breaking contract are nego-tiated and the result profitable

to both parties.

Visual Instructions for the use and rationale of the product

Macro Mapping

http://http://

SEG

Hi!

kW/h

share amount

emotion

energy consumption

Micro Mapping: Customer Journey Map

month 1

energy provider switch

http://

i Hi!

http://

i $ SEG SEG

http://

kW/h

http://

Hi!?

month 2

Hi!?

month 2

$ $

$ $

% %

?month 3 2 years

$

Micro Mapping: Customer Journey Map

Reflection

Service Design thinking has very quickly become an avenue that I wish to pursue. This studio allowed me to appreciate both sides of the process. As a student, my critical thinking methods and system development have improved astronomically. Mapping has particularly become a tool that I appreciate and employ through all stages of my design process. The variety of approaches that service design offers helps me, I feel, develop a fluidity in my design approach, where it was more brittle to begin with. However, I feel that I did not develop practical manufacturing methods, due to an unconscious motivation that was my own. This studio has put my education at a cross-road, where products lie one way and services the other. I will continue to attempt to walk at an equidistant path between them both.

The project itself was very exciting. Working with an ideal that I am passionate about helped me to think through the dif-ferent ways the service could be applied. I think one of the weakest points about the service is that it relies on energy provid-ers to be sympathetic to the environmental cause; which, being a pessimist, I do not think that they are. I am also unsure of how the energy provider would deal with user funds, the ‘value’ of the share might decrease, and the investment into green energy mightn’t have the opportunity to grow. Further, without sufficient media backing, this system would be difficult to put in place.

Some of the most positive aspects of the service, however, are the immediate changes to user behaviour. Switching to 100% green energy before beginning to monitor usage is a mighty way to bring about change. Further altering habits through competitions, social media and society help behavioural change to become embedded in the modern society. All media is social, so too should be design.

Reflection