Article

Ecological performance of electrical consumer products: the influence of automation and information-based measures.

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Sauer, J.
Wiese, B. S.
Rüttinger, B.

Abstract / Description

Being concerned with the environmental impact of electrical consumer products, this article examines possibilities of influencing ecological user performance through design features. Furthermore, it looks at the relationship of user characteristics and ecological performance. The impact of level of automation and type of control labelling on ecological user performance was examined in a lab-based experimental scenario with 36 users. In addition to performance indicators, a range of user variables (e.g., self-reported domestic behaviour, environmental knowledge and attitude) was measured to assess their influence on user behaviour. The results showed that low-level automation improved ecological performance whereas no such positive effect was observed for enhanced display-control labelling. Furthermore, the results suggested that the user's mental model of ecological performance was rather limited. No relationship was found between environmental knowledge, attitude and performance. The findings pointed at the strong prevalence of habits in the domestic domain. The implications of the results for designers of consumer products are discussed.

Keyword(s)

Produktentwicklung Industriedesign Umweltverträgliches Produkt Elektrogerät Produktentwicklung Industriedesign Umweltverträgliches Produkt Elektrogerät Product design Environment Electrical appliance

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2004

Publication status

unknown

Review status

unknown

Citation

  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Sauer, J.
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Wiese, B. S.
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Rüttinger, B.
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2022-11-21T17:09:14Z
  • Made available on
    2009-03-25
  • Made available on
    2015-12-01T10:30:44Z
  • Made available on
    2022-11-21T17:09:14Z
  • Date of first publication
    2004
  • Abstract / Description
    Being concerned with the environmental impact of electrical consumer products, this article examines possibilities of influencing ecological user performance through design features. Furthermore, it looks at the relationship of user characteristics and ecological performance. The impact of level of automation and type of control labelling on ecological user performance was examined in a lab-based experimental scenario with 36 users. In addition to performance indicators, a range of user variables (e.g., self-reported domestic behaviour, environmental knowledge and attitude) was measured to assess their influence on user behaviour. The results showed that low-level automation improved ecological performance whereas no such positive effect was observed for enhanced display-control labelling. Furthermore, the results suggested that the user's mental model of ecological performance was rather limited. No relationship was found between environmental knowledge, attitude and performance. The findings pointed at the strong prevalence of habits in the domestic domain. The implications of the results for designers of consumer products are discussed.
    en
  • Publication status
    unknown
  • Review status
    unknown
  • ISSN
    0003-6870
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bsz:291-psydok-21770
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11780/590
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.10885
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Is part of
    Applied Ergonomics, 35, 37-47.
  • Keyword(s)
    Produktentwicklung
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Industriedesign
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Umweltverträgliches Produkt
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Elektrogerät
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Produktentwicklung
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Industriedesign
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Umweltverträgliches Produkt
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Elektrogerät
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Product design
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    Environment
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    Electrical appliance
    en
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Ecological performance of electrical consumer products: the influence of automation and information-based measures.
    de
  • DRO type
    article
  • Visible tag(s)
    PsyDok