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

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dc.contributor.authorJames, Joseph Andrewen
dc.contributor.committeechairPaige, Frederick Eugeneen
dc.contributor.committeememberJazizadeh Karimi, Farrokhen
dc.contributor.committeememberOyekoya, Oyewoleen
dc.contributor.committeememberNottingham, Quinton J.en
dc.contributor.departmentCivil and Environmental Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2025-02-04T09:00:35Zen
dc.date.available2025-02-04T09:00:35Zen
dc.date.issued2025-02-03en
dc.description.abstractData 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.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralData visualization has the power to tell a wonderful, meaningful, and thoughtful story when created with the end user in mind. The same thing can be said about visualizations on utility bills when tailored to a resident's energy, graphical, and data literacy level. A residents' literacy level results from their life experiences and circumstances dealing with energy data. Currently, data visualizations are standardized by utilizing companies, meaning that all individuals receive the same energy data visualization no matter their literacy level. My aim for this dissertation is to evaluate which data visualization chart types and VR visual aids enable reading, working with, analyzing, and arguing energy consumption data of household appliance pairs for residents. The data visualization chart types explored include the area, bar, and circular column charts. The visual aids explored include color coding, electricity flow, and the power meter. 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 difficulty reading and working with energy metrics on all three 2D chart types. If participants did not understand the units when reading and working with the charts their ability to analyze and argue the energy data was insufficient. 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 alternatives that enable reading, working with, analyzing, and arguing residential energy consumption data.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophyen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:42190en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10919/124473en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectEnergy Awarenessen
dc.subjectEnergy Literacyen
dc.subjectData Literacyen
dc.subjectGraphical Literacyen
dc.subjectResidential Energy Dataen
dc.subjectData Visualizationen
dc.subjectVirtual Realityen
dc.titleUsing Alternative Data Visualization Formats to Impact Residents Energy Estimation of Household Appliancesen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineCivil Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen

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