E-tree: Understanding an In-Home Energy Consumption Display

E-tree is an in-home Energy Consumption Display (ECD), which the user can use as both stationary and portable device. We explored E-tree to help the user understand their energy consumption at the home. Project phase two included three goals. First, we implemented a wireless measurement device, which uses an Infrastructure Mediated Sensing (IMS) system attached to the home power breaker. E-tree received information about total current household electricity consumption and the consumption of appliances from the measurement device. The measurement device has both real-time and periodical monitoring. Second, we compared two algorithms for the measurement device. Third, we refined design and form factor, which included the ability to select an appliance to display the consumption at surface. ACM Classification: H5.2 [Information interfaces and presentation]: User Interfaces. – User-centered design. General terms: Design, Human Factors