Abstract
Concerns about climate change associated with the combustion of fossil fuels urge a call for widespread reductions in household energy use. Determining means of achieving this is a key challenge faced by environmental scientists. The current research presents insights gained from a 12-month empirical trial of new serious game for energy, ‘EnergyCat’; which was designed to encourage household energy reductions in the UK social housing sector. Effects of gameplay on consumption behaviours and energy awareness were explored using 82 UK social housing households (versus a no-game control). Results indicated the intervention did not lead to any substantive changes in awareness or consumption practices. However, post-intervention feedback highlighted several issues in terms of game design and usability that may explain why the game failed to change behaviour in this instance. We provide a framework of suggestions as to how the game design process could be improved in order to engage residents in future, including use of adaptive fonts for older residents, and provision of clearer instructions on gameplay objectives at the outset. In addition, researchers should ensure close collaboration is maintained with residents throughout the design process in future efforts, in order to maximise likelihood of ongoing engagement from this population.
DOI
10.17083/ijsg.v7i2.333
Publication Date
2020-05-29
Publication Title
International Journal of Serious Games
Volume
7
Issue
2
Embargo Period
2020-07-21
Organisational Unit
School of Psychology
Keywords
Serious gaming, Behaviour change, Energy saving, Social housing, Sustainability
First Page
27
Last Page
48
Recommended Citation
Hafner, R., Fuertes, A., Pahl, S., Jones, R., Boomsma, C., Gangolells, M., & Casals, M. (2020) 'Results and insight gained from applying the EnergyCat energy-saving serious game in UK social housing', International Journal of Serious Games, 7(2), pp. 27-48. Available at: https://doi.org/10.17083/ijsg.v7i2.333
