Just In Time Carbon Footprint

Just In TimeCarbon Footprint

Manu Gupta, Stephen Intille and Kent Larson

MIT Media Lab, House_n

[email protected]@[email protected]

Carbon Footprint

Measurement & calculation of CO2 emitted as part of daily life activities

Why measure –Conserve energy–Allow people to be aware of their emission –Help people change usage patterns –Its our responsibility

Our Focus

Behavior change

Measuring and motivating energy conservation behavior at the personal level

PlaceLab- A Live-In Laboratory

Data Collection– Only electric current information– 37 different electrical circuits fitted with current sensors– Circuits are divided into residential spaces and residential appliances

PlaceLab- A Live-In Laboratory

Data Analysis– A Couple lived in the PlaceLab for 10 weeks– One day analysis– Annotation

• Video analysis of usage, movement and behavior patterns – Current analysis

• Of each individual appliance/device’s energy consumption

Analysis ToolHandlense sensor visualization tool

–Developed at House_n

Unused lights & Devices

Vampire power sources

Projected Usage

Devices in use

Space in use

Results

Total electricity consumed in 1 day = 13.45 KWh

With an “optimal” change in behavior (but without impacting quality of life)

– They would have saved ~ 38% (5KWh) of the total

electricity consumed

Behavior Change Strategies

To motivate energy conservation behavior two strategies can be used

Responsive Automation*

Just in Time Intervention*

*Current research is on designing these strategies and testing how much energy can be saved using them.

Behavioral Change Interfaces

Exploring the use of phones for just-in-time positive reinforcement.

Key idea: positive reinforcement tied to small behavior changes (Detected by sensing)

May lead to gradual behavior change.

System Components

Sensor Network

Control and Actuation system

Mobile Devices

Intervention strategies

System Characteristics

Low power

Wireless

Affordable

Real Time interaction with mobile devices

Non intrusive

Right mix of automation and intervention

Thanks