The usability of control interfaces in low-carbon housing

Abstract

For the same type of house, energy and water use can vary by up to 14 times between different households in low-carbon housing. This article assesses the usability of key human control interfaces in two contrasting case studies of low-carbon housing, using building performance evaluation and a usability matrix tool. It situates the discussion within socio-technical theories of habit, practice, capabilities and emergent properties in products which facilitate easy, rewarding and energyefficient learning. Key findings reveal poor design features and occupant lack of understanding including specific aspects of centralised mechanical heating and ventilation systems. Lessons learnt and recommendations are highlighted for design guidance and policy consideration. These include a more user-centred approach to design and testing of products, and key areas of focus in relation to delivering low-carbon homes that are more controllable and therefore more comfortable.

Building Performance Evaluation

“…There was less confidence about whether the guide helps residents to understand the controls -the guide identifies where information about controls could be found, but in many cases the controls themselves were found to be confusing. Both this study and other research in this area (Stevenson et al 2012) have identified that users' knowledge of how to use low energy homes is a significant barrier.…”

Synthesizing building physics with social psychology: An interdisciplinary framework for context and occupant behavior in office buildings

“…Based on the TPB, Chen and Knight [19] [10,45], building design robustness [51,52], usability of control systems [53][54][55], social norm, group interaction [19,[56][57][58][59][60][61], personal and cognitive traits (i.e., perceived behavioral control, behavioral intentions, energy saving attitudes) [19,35,46,[62][63][64], and motivational drivers [43,[65][66][67][68]. Langevin, et al [16] observed that behavior sequencing of adaptive actions in office buildings is a complex phenomenon, where multiple behavioral adaptations are sometimes available, and certain interactions are subject to contextual and social constraints instead.…”

Overheating in retrofitted flats: occupant practices, learning and interventions

“…Tacit knowledge, learning opportunities, and the usability of controls were examined as well as occupant understanding and skills (Stevenson et al, 2013). An ethnographic approach …”