Design for sustainable behaviour: a case study of using human-power as an everyday energy source

Abstract

There is an increased focus on research identifying design strategies to influence user behaviour towards more sustainable action, known as design for sustainable behaviour (DfSB). Recent literature in this field has introduced a number of design processes, and developed a model that emerged through consensus. However, not enough case studies are accompanied by those proposed strategies; therefore it is difficult to evaluate their effectiveness. This paper presents findings from a case study of inducing a sustainable behaviour - using human-power to drive everyday energy using products (EuP). It presents the result of applying the strategy to an artefact and evaluation was carried through conducting a product-in-use study. The analysis provides an explanation of how each of the participants copes with the use of a new artefact and account for different types of motivations that have affected their behaviour determinants.