The rise of smart building technology often makes energy efficiency feel like a technical problem, where better devices, configurations, and maintenance can provide the solution. Buildings are human spaces, however, where occupant decisions can be some of the most influential factor in how energy is used and how it can be saved. While some advanced technological solutions now focus on quantifying human behavior and analyzing it to predict and optimize energy use, they often struggle for accuracy and acceptance. Rather than feeding big data engines with occupant information, a recently completed EU project shows how to improve energy efficiency by feeding occupants with building data, thereby empowering them to make efficient choices. The 3-year, EU-wide InBetween Project officially ended yesterday and concluded that we can improve energy efficiency by an estimated 20% simply by enabling users to recognize inefficiencies, understand how they can reduce waste, and inspire them to act on that knowledge. Borrowing from […]