Power to the people

In this paper we propose that design and HCI research address domestic energy management as a matter of timeliness, and organised on a community scale. We argue that instead of focusing on the financial benefits of energy saving, technologies can be used to connect users in systems that promote better understandings of the impact of their behaviours. We review current policy and practice and outline design proposals for systems that bring people together to work as a team to reduce the strain on national energy generating infrastructure. We argue that by exposing some of the complexity of power generation people can make more informed energy consuming choices.