Many households want to save energy, but a lack of transparency and unclear data make it difficult to understand and actively reduce their own consumption.
According to studies, 42% of households do not know how much energy their devices actually use. Without clear information, saving energy often remains a vague intention rather than a tangible habit.
According to studies, 42% of households do not know how much energy their devices actually use. Without clear information, saving energy often remains a vague intention rather than a tangible habit.
Wattguard is an app that helps households better understand and actively reduce their energy consumption.
Connected to a smart meter, it visualizes usage data, identifies power-hungry devices, and motivates users to save energy through challenges. The focus lies on simple usability, clear data visualization, and actionable recommendations – promoting a more sustainable everyday life.
Connected to a smart meter, it visualizes usage data, identifies power-hungry devices, and motivates users to save energy through challenges. The focus lies on simple usability, clear data visualization, and actionable recommendations – promoting a more sustainable everyday life.
Concept
Smart meter connection
System overview – from energy data to user insight
Question Zero
How can we enable people to understand and reduce their energy consumption in a simple, intuitive way?
Application
Onboarding, communicating the core idea of wattguard
Turning complex data into simple, actionable insights
Diagnostics
Challenges & Success
The diagnostics feature of Wattguard allows users to analyze their energy consumption in detail and identify specific opportunities for optimization. By connecting to a smart meter, real-time data is collected and clearly visualized within the app. A key element of this feature is the device comparison:
Users can compare the energy consumption of individual devices or device groups to identify inefficient power consumers. For example, the app can reveal whether it is more energy-efficient to heat water using a kettle or a stove.
Users can compare the energy consumption of individual devices or device groups to identify inefficient power consumers. For example, the app can reveal whether it is more energy-efficient to heat water using a kettle or a stove.
The Challenges feature of wattguard follows a strategic approach: it uses playful elements to motivate users to consciously reflect on their energy consumption and establish sustainable habits in their daily lives.
Through interactive tasks, everyday actions are transformed into tangible challenges. This gamification strategy not only increases individual engagement but also strengthens social interaction by allowing users to share their progress and motivate each other. Overall, the Challenges feature serves as an effective tool to encourage sustainable behavior and reduce energy consumption in the long term.
Through interactive tasks, everyday actions are transformed into tangible challenges. This gamification strategy not only increases individual engagement but also strengthens social interaction by allowing users to share their progress and motivate each other. Overall, the Challenges feature serves as an effective tool to encourage sustainable behavior and reduce energy consumption in the long term.
Turning everyday actions into interactive challenges
Encouraging energy-saving habits through gamified progression
Corporate Design
Clarity through design
Logo of wattguard
Designing for Long-Term Impact
Next dinemsion
By combining digital analysis, physical visibility, and personalized incentives, Wattguard not only encourages short-term savings but also fosters long-term behavioral change.
In the future, the solution could be expanded with AI-based recommendations, automated device control, or integration into smart home systems – with the goal of continuously reducing energy consumption and making sustainable behavior a natural part of everyday life.
In the future, the solution could be expanded with AI-based recommendations, automated device control, or integration into smart home systems – with the goal of continuously reducing energy consumption and making sustainable behavior a natural part of everyday life.
Software
Prototyping
Coding
UI Design & Low-fidelity Prototype
Figma
Hardware & Prototyping
VS Code
Credits
Team
UI Design, Visual Design, Prototyping
Anja Gutmann
Coding & Prototyping
Luca Ziegler
Concept & Coding
Selamawit Gegziabher
Information
Supervising Professors
Institution
Interaction & Communication Design
Prof. Hans Krämer
Digital Product Design and Development
Prof. Jens Döring
Hochschule für Gestaltung
Schwäbisch Gmünd