Team: IU EcoVis (David Roedl & William Odom)
IMPORTANT: This Project is a web application and must be
viewed over the web to function properly.
The site is located at http://energychallenge.indiana.edu.
The main interactive component is found at http://energychallenge.indiana.edu/standings
All source files have been included for reference in the
submission.
Abstract:
From March 20 to April 17 2008, more than 9,000 students
living in Indiana University dormitories competed to reduce their energy and
water consumption in IU’s first-ever Campus Energy Challenge. Throughout the
competition, the Energy Challenge Website provided frequent updates on
consumption data, competition standings, and conservation tips. This dynamic
web-application evokes a sense of fun and motivation by giving students helpful
feedback that supports and encourages their conservation efforts. At the end of
four weeks, students conserved an estimated 446,139 KWh of electricity and
613,919 gallons of water. Remarkably, the students' conservation efforts
resulted in an estimated $26,000 in avoided utility costs and 801,454 pounds of
carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to taking 67 passenger cars off
the road for one year.
The site design features dynamic, interactive data graphics,
which allow students to easily compare their consumption with other dorms and
track changes over time. The site also includes a list of suggested
conservation actions and educational information to raise awareness about
climate change and other environmental consequences of resource use. While many
information visualization tools exist, rarely has this type of interface been
designed for non-experts in mind, and for the purpose of motivating
environmental action. Through competition and an engaging user experience, the
Energy Challenge Website seeks to transform perception of the basic resources
on which we depend—and so often take for granted—and make them visible, valuable
and meaningful.