Social transition from energy consumers to prosumers: Rethinking the purpose and functionality of eco-feedback technologies

Research and industry practice in eco-feedback technologies has been overwhelmingly focused on behaviour management to reduce energy consumption: building occupants are energy consumers whose behaviour must be modified through the provision of real time data. The transition to a decarbonised economy has resulted in solar households that are now both energy producers and consumers (i.e. prosumers). No research has been conducted on the real time feedback needs of prosumers to inform their decisions to balance their energy consumption, rooftop photovoltaic (PV) generation and electricity grid interaction within a net zero energy (NZE) context. The purpose of this study was to use case studies to examine eco-feedback data from the perspective of prosumers to determine to what extent these technologies are and are not meeting prosumer needs and to evaluate what these findings mean in terms of extended functionality and better design of eco-feedback technologies. The study highlights that existing eco-feedback data is under-utilised in its analysis and visualisation to meet prosumers' needs for management of consumption, generation and grid interaction. The paper proposes new goals, purposes and mechanisms for eco-feedback technologies to contribute to the social and technological transition to a low carbon society that includes prosumers, however further research is required to test these proposals with prosumers and technology developers.