The document discusses how eco-aware objects (smart everyday objects) can help save energy by reporting and reducing their own energy consumption autonomously. It presents research on a smart coffee maker that was able to reduce its energy usage by 53% by intelligently switching between power modes based on usage patterns. The study suggests embedding green intelligence in appliances can meaningfully save energy when collaborating with humans to promote greener behavior.

1. Will Eco-aware Things help us to Save the
World?
UCAmI 2012
Diego Casado-Mansilla, Juan López-de-Armentia, Diego López-
de-Ipiña
DeustoTech - Deusto Institute of Technology, University of Deusto
http://www.morelab.deusto.es
December 4, 2012
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2. What is this presentation about?
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3. What is an Eco-aware Object?
► An Smart Everyday Object with green soul.
► Reporter:
► Visualizes and communicates energy
consumption to end-Users.
► Activist:
► Contributes to save energy autonoumously.
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4. Why we need more Eco-aware Objects?
• More and more devices placed in our common settings
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5. Why we need more Eco-aware Objects?
• Energy is a ghost measure.
• Devices drawn energy in STANDBY.
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6. Why we need more Eco-aware Objects?
• We waste more energy than we should.
• We misuse electrical devices
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7. Why we need more Eco-aware Objects?
► Because appliance’s designers do not take into
account how devices will be used:
► Where placed?
► How many people will use them?
► Different mindsets  different device’s usage.
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8. To Retain…
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9. Empirical Evidence
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10. Empirical Evidence
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11. Literature Review
► Technical approaches:
► Automation, Smart E-meters, auto power-down
modes and domotics.
► Awareness Approaches:
► Brochures, good practices’ campaigns and e-
consumption invoices.
► Feedback systems and fair competitions in social
networks.
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12. Our Strategy
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13. Social Coffee Maker
► Shared device in a
public space (Lab)
► Common in offices &
homes.
► High power
consumption ~40 kWh
/ year
► Exhibit Eco-modes:
► Standby
► Auto power-down
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14. Coffee Maker: Modes of Operation
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15. Our Approach: Eco-Aware mode
► Shift appropriately between the On-Off mode
and Standby mode:
1. Divide the day in periods of 1 hour.
2. Collect usage data during 3 months.
3. Calculate the number of coffees that must be
prepared for shifting purposes.
4. Use the dataset to simulate the e-savings
approaches.
5. Use the optimal mode as objective function: Eco-
aware mode.
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16. Our Approach: Eco-Aware mode
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17. Results
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18. Analysis of Results
► The 3 optimization approaches would reduce e-
waste when compared with the baseline (real-
usage):
► Absentmindedness approach (off-mode 7pm-8am) ~15% of
save.
► Auto-power down mode (boosted by EU) ~ 35% of save.
► Eco-aware mode (mixed approach) ~ 53% of save.
► With the e-save of Eco-aware mode (6,334 kWh in
41days)*:
► 25h of dishwasher.
► 10h of oven usage.
Will Eco-aware Things helpportable fan.
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19. Conclusions & Future Work
Embed green-intelligence within appliances is valuable to
save energy.
We need Eco-aware objects in collaboration with humans
to promote a greener behavior.
Redefine static eco-designs. They not take into account
device real usage pattern.
► Devise a predictive model for the coffee maker
► Evaluate the behavior change and test
awareness
► Compare the tradeoff between energy need for
Eco-aware objects and the energy that they
save.
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21. All rights of images are reserved by the
original owners*, the rest of the content is
licensed under a Creative Commons by-sa 3.0
license.
• http://electrictreehouse.com/they-call-it-vampire-energy/
• http://www.verdiem.com/news/press-releases/2010-10-20/new-research-study-reveals-significant-energy-waste-more-100-million
• http://wallpapersfor.me/new-york-city-of-lights/
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2231649/China-refuses-recycle-Britains-rubbish-poor-quality.html
• http://duinoaday.wordpress.com/
• https://www.coursera.org/course/ml
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