Design of Energy Dashboard Display to Promote Energy-Data Literacy

In many US homes, 15% of the energy that can be saved is hidden beneath complex mathematical calculations. Hidden energy savings can be revealed by converting mathematical calculations to data visualizations, creating a story for residents to see how they are consuming energy. Cloud-based data visualization platforms offer the ability to appropriately communicate complex building energy data to a broad set of stakeholders. Unfortunately, proprietary solutions are too expensive and open-source options lack standardization for cloud-based energy monitoring. This study aims to create a comprehensive energy dashboard display to increase residents' energy awareness of how energy is consumed throughout their homes. But before energy dashboards can be created, a content analysis of current visualization chart types used on utility bills and energy monitoring devices were discovered to see how energy data has been visualized in the energy domain. Next, a literature review was conducted to reveal other visualization chart types outside of the energy domain that could be used to visualize energy data. The content analysis results identified eight visualization chart types that are used on utility bills and energy monitoring devices. In addition, the literature review uncovered eight additional visualization chart types that have the functionality to visualize energy data. Next, the visualization chart types were combined with data modeling design techniques to create prototype energy dashboard displays to communicate energy insights to residents. Soon utility companies will begin to provide data visualizations for the majority of their customers. The insights from this study can help to inform and lead the development of commercially used data visualizations. In addition, this research can provide utility companies with a blueprint on how to share energy consumption data with customers.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• James, Joseph Andrew

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Paige, Frederick Eugene

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Nottingham, Quinton J.
• Jazizadeh Karimi, Farrokh

• data visualization
• energy literacy
• data literacy
• energy data
• visualization chart Types
• data modeling design
• energy behaviors

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:32461

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/114060