Digital design for sustainable behaviour: a conceptual framework to guide design intervention

Domestic energy consumption is increasing in the UK’s housing stock in the face of government commitments to reduce CO2. Occupant behaviour has been targeted as a promising area in which to effect a reduction in consumption levels but has proved resilient to high level intervention approaches. This short paper explores the constituent elements of energy consuming behaviour and habits and puts forward a conceptual framework to guide future design intervention. Central to this is the implementation of Design for Sustainable Behaviour methodologies to change the nature of occupant-appliance interaction. The paper concludes with a discussion of the role of Digital Media as an agent for such behavioural change.