Using Alternative Data Visualization Formats to Impact Residents Energy Estimation of Household Appliances

Data visualization has the power to portray an informative message when designed with the end user in mind. Energy data visualizations must be tailored to the resident's energy, graphical, and data literacy level. A resident's energy, graphical, and data literacy level depicts their understanding and life experience with energy. Current utility companies standardize data visualization formats for all customers, regardless of their literacy level. My aim for this dissertation is to evaluate how data visualization mediums (2D chart types and virtual reality visual aids) aid residents when reading, working with, analyzing, and arguing energy consumption data of household appliance pairs. The data visualization chart types explored include the area, bar, and circular column charts. The visual aids displayed in the virtual environment explored include color coding, electricity flow, and the power meter. The energy data of the household appliances is embedded within the visual aids without displaying energy metrics. The household appliances include lighting (LED vs incandescent bulb), cooking (air fryer and stove), and heating appliances (heat pump and space heater). The participants included 32 graduate students from Virginia Tech engineering programs. Results from the study showed that some participants had a hard time interpreting axis unit metrics energy such as watts, watt*minutes, and kWhs in all three 2D chart types. If participants could not read and work with the units on charts, their ability to analyze and argue about the energy data was diminished quickly. In addition, when participants were interacting with the visual aids, researchers discovered that the power meter was the easiest to convey because it provided participants with a way to qualitatively and quantitatively answer the questions presented by the questionnaire. This dissertation provides insights for researchers, utility companies, and policymakers to move away from standardized data visualizations and utilize alternative visuals for reading, working with, analyzing, and arguing residential energy consumption data. Researchers can utilize the dissertation insights to explore other data visualization mediums that have the potential to convey energy insights. Utility companies can begin implementing these alternative data visualizations in pilot programs to test their effectiveness with the public. And lastly, policymakers can enforce utility companies to prioritize customer literacy levels when administering utility bills.