Conductor
Combating renewable energy waste ● CC Awards Grand Prix Winner 2024
Problem
Renewable energy is frequently wasted due to grid inefficiencies, leading to unnecessary fossil fuel reliance, and higher energy bills. Users lack awareness, control, and opportunities to take advantage of surplus green energy.
Insight
People are most motivated by financial savings. By aligning household energy use with surplus renewable periods, users can lower their bills while reducing energy waste, if they have the right tools and awareness.
Solution
Conductor, a smart energy management system that notifies users of saving windows and automates appliance use during surplus renewable periods. Through clear design, engaging notifications, and financial incentives, Conductor empowers users to maximise green energy usage effortlessly.
Conductor empowers you to take control of your energy savings, make a positive environmental impact, and seamlessly manage your smart home.
As we move towards carbon neutral goals, renewables are an increasingly vital part of the world we live in. I used this project as a chance to deep dive into the world of renewable energy.
More turbines… More problems?
My research revealed the issue of wasted clean energy. Despite the availability and cost effectiveness of sustainable energy, grid inefficiencies often lead to increased reliance on fossil fuels, worsening the impacts of climate change.
‘I was led to believe my power is from renewable sources, but I’m not sure.’
For most, anything related to green energy generation seems abstract and unapproachable. Many users I interviewed lacked awareness about their energy sources. Users wanted to learn more, have greater control, and most importantly, save money.
Users not only miss the opportunity for cost-effective green energy, but pay extra for this occurrence.
To gain a better understanding of this, I spoke with an offshore wind consultant who shed light on the concept of 'wind curtailment.’ This occurs when the grid is at capacity, leading to the shutdown of wind farms.
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The grid is paying to turn off clean, affordable energy.
Users want cheaper, greener and more transparent energy bills.
Shifting power usage to times of surplus green energy reduces renewable waste.
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Users are willing to change usage habits to save money.
Conductor identifies tasks that align with saving windows, notifying users to prepare appliances in that period.
Surplus renewable energy periods often happen when users are unable to act. Smart appliances, connected to the grid through Conductor can be automated. Using appliances to take full advantage of saving windows.
It’s harder to ignore a notification that carries the potential of a cash saving.
The more home tasks users switch to surplus renewable periods. The more money they get of their bills.
Conductor utilises the users monetary internal trigger to give the external notification more weight. It Incentivises home task completion.
Design
Setting the tone for Conductor was super important. It needed to be friendly, not bossy. Encouraging users in a more relaxed way.
I used neon green to highlight important data and saving areas, keeping things clean and simple to emphasise the importance of the saving windows.
‘Sometimes when there’s a lot of text i’ll just skim read it.’
Testing showed that some parts of the onboarding and setup needed simpler explanations. Before changes, users couldn't understand pages with lots of text. After enlarging text and reducing content, users better understood the pages.
Onboarding
Clearer, more succinct text. Explaining app function. Gains user trust before asking to input provider details.
Smart Device Set-up
Option to input device information if it’s not a smart appliance. Clearer confirmation page.
Dash
Saving window visualisation. Important ‘Requires action’ section brought onto the dash.
Notifications
Continued ‘Conductor’ tone of voice into notifications.
