ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the potential of various feedback techniques for bringing down household electricity consumption. It aims to identify which features feedback must have in order to work best. The chapter deals with the socio-technical regime of electricity consumption and production. This regime is embedded in a broader cultural landscape characterised by competing trends and views. With regard to providing feedback on electricity consumption, one may pursue different goals. The effectiveness of feedback for electricity conservation depends on a number of design features, including the context, location, size and specific goals of the project. If feedback can reduce household electricity consumption, this has also social and economic advantages for the households. Feedback projects should be based on sound consumer research in order to test variants of graphic design and presentation and to explore the specific needs and preferences of different target groups, as carried out by Wilhite.
