Curiosity to cupboard

This paper discusses findings made during a study of\udenergy use feedback in the home (eco-feedback), well\udafter the novelty has worn off. Contributing towards four\udimportant knowledge gaps in the research, we explore\udeco-feedback over longer time scales, focusing on\udinstances where the feedback was not of lasting benefit to\udusers rather than when it was. Drawing from 23 semi-structured interviews with Australian householders, we found that an initially high level of engagement gave way over time to disinterest, neglect and in certain cases, technical malfunction. Additionally, preconceptions concerned with the “purpose” of the feedback were found to affect use. We propose expanding the scope of enquiry for eco-feedback in several ways, and describe how eco-feedback that better supports decision-making in the “maintenance phase”, i.e. once the initial novelty has worn off, may be key to longer term engagement