Evaluating a social media application for sustainability in the workplace

Abstract

The goal of this research is to investigate the benefits of using a web-based social network to promote energy awareness, and influence energy-saving behavior of typical office workers. We propose that a social network integrated into the workplace environment -allowing people to track their own energy-related activities, to share this information, and to view and react to peers' activities -can take advantage of social influence to positively affect behavior. We are currently developing a prototype of such an application through iterative design. In the final phase of this work we will conduct experiments with a large number of subjects to test the ability of this application to influence attitudes and behaviors of office workers, and for providing a platform for commercial building operators to better communicate with occupants.

"Watts in it for me?"

“…More recently, embryonic work has been described by Lehrer & Vasude, which investigated the concept of using an online social network to deliver workplace energy feedback and promote and encourage energy saving practices [24]. The authors have yet to report on the findings of their field-study; which mirrors the social media approach described in successful domestic interventions (e.g. '…”

Using semantic web technologies to access soft AEC data

“…4), a group of 65 final year engineering undergraduates were encouraged to follow a particular Twitter account (CE454) and to post commentary on building performance as they encountered it, throughout the day. This work differs from other studies [43,44] in this area by the manner in which the data is extracted from the social media domain and exposed in RDF. The key point of this work is to make information more accessible using semantic web technologies.…”

Beyond Limitations of Current Behaviour Change Apps for Sustainable Mobility: Insights from a User-Centered Design and Evaluation Process

“…Smartphone apps persuading users to engage in more sustainable behaviour were at first developed to promote electricity and water savings, accompanying the roll-out of smart meter devices to measure real-time electricity and water consumption (among others, see [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]). Such apps provide users with feedback on consequences of their choices (usually, in terms of energy consumption and CO 2 emissions), invite them to define personal goals for change, engage in challenges and compare their performances with other users, often also exploiting the users' social network relationships [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]. Frequently, such apps also exploit gamification, which is usually defined as "the use of game elements in non-gaming contexts" ( [39], p. 1).…”