Please describe a domain or an area of opportunity that you’d like to use as the focus for the design of a PRODUCT, SERVICE, or BUILT FEATURE that supports or promotes sustainable behaviors and practices for INDIVIDUALS in day-to-day use.
For this first design project, focus your thinking on:
- a PRODUCT -- something physical that can be manufactured, distributed, purchased, and potentially held in your hand or carried with you.
- a SERVICE or APPLICATION -- something that you can order, subscribe to, or use (in-person or online) -- that will support and promote the sustainability and resilience goals of your potential users.
- a SPACE, PLACE, or BUILDING FEATURE — that supports or promotes sustainability in the day-to-day activities of individual users.
Please share your initial thoughts in a few paragraphs below…
The domain that I’d like to focus on is….
Reducing energy consumption and environmental impact of heating and cooling systems in residential structures
This area is important/interesting to me because….
Working in property management and renovations, I am seeing utility costs grow substantially over the past two years.
The main driver for the increase is attributed to heating and cooling (HVAC) systems. I’ve noticed that usage is increasing despite utility companies charging higher rates due to inflation and geopolitical shocks.
I would like to explore how we can reduce energy usage and environmental impacts HVAC systems by implementing monetary incentives.