ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts discussed in the preceeding chapters of this book. The book investigates how the concept of mental models could be applied to interface design to encourage behaviour change with domestic energy systems. It discusses the tree-rings framework used to develop a systematic method to capture user mental models of home heating and associated behaviour. It also discusses the Quick Association ChecK (QuACk), a semi-structured interview script developed with consideration of bias for data collection, representation and analysis. The book describes the shared theories in the existing literature on the thermostat device were useful in a 'generic' capacity to describe functional models and behaviour for alternate devices. It also discusses the differences between the content of householders' mental model descriptions and that from a home-heating expert, highlighted common misunderstandings and omissions relevant for targeting energy-saving strategies.
