Learning Energy Systems
Using design research methods to explore opportunities for energy systems that include pupils and teachers as active participants in their schools energy system. Through our co-creation activities, and the deployment of our physical and digital prototypes, we provided tools that supported the community in prioritising an energy efficient school life.
My role in this projects was in discovery research, planning and conducting co-creation workshops, designing developing and deploying prototypes, co-ordinating a team of designers and developers, and co-ordinating with schools and energy companies.
Learning Energy Systems was an EPSRC funded research project from the University of Edinburgh between the schools of Architecture, Informatics, and Design.
Kilowatt Clocks
The Kilowatt Clocks were a set of electricity meters that visualise the amount of electricity being used in a classroom. The more electricity being used, the faster the yellow disc spins, giving pupils and teachers live visual feedback on how their activities contribute to the schools electricity usage. However, these electricity meters do not gather data from sensors, but from the observations of the school pupils recorded through the accompanying app. In doing so, the system relies on, and encourages the engagement, and attention of students to their environment, while providing prompts for discussion.
Energy Diary
I designed the energy diary as a way for school pupils without a data collecting energy system in their school to collect data by observation. Rather than focussing on accuracy of data, the diary showed us that there was value in designing mechanisms for pupils to pay attention to how energy was being used in the building. This was later translated into a iPad app that the school pupils could use to collect observed data, which would be logged to the accompanying dashboard.