The learning house

Panel: Panel 2: Dynamics of Consumption

Authors:
Jonas Honoré, Technical University of Denmark
Morten Elle, Technical University of Denmark

Abstract

Throughout the 19th and 20th-century increased automation of residential buildings has lead to a lack of awareness on the actual effect of the polluting effect of consumption. The accumulating environmental problems urge to change this development. Approaches focusing on energy efficiency alone might ease the pain but they will not cure the patient.

Building automation is gaining ground in residential buildings. The result is the intelligent building, which relies on high-tech applications to accommodate the residents' wishes, while simultaneously optimising the use of resources. Such a building may seem to be a dream-come-true. There are, however reasons for concern. An intelligent home may lead to "stupid" residents: the residents' appreciation of the underlying environmental implications of the use of energy decreases.

This paper presents a concept that is based upon knowledge on energy-technology, user interfaces and information: the learning house, raising the residents' awareness by interaction, influences and increased action competence.

The concept describes a learning building in which the building learns (adapts) to the residents' behaviour, based on which it provides relevant information and home-automation. By supplying the residents with more control and information a basis for an increased motivation to be concerned about otherwise hidden aspects of the use of energy is created. This involves designing advanced building-systems as well as reorganising the existing energy-infrastructure to support desegregation of energy-products and finally designing a user-interface for the learning house, thus enabling the resident to live in it without using a manual.