PNNL

Abstract

Human-centered design (HCD) is the practice of designing systems for human use. This paper describes the discipline of human factors engineering, which has traditionally been applied to energy intensive complex systems such as automobiles and aircraft, and will look ahead to applications in sustainable systems design. The focus of HCD has been ensuring efficient and effective human-system performance, through application of design principles such as understanding the user, providing feedback, and minimizing cognitive load. These principles also apply to the design of sustainable socio-technical systems, both through specific device user interfaces and broader developments such as transportation systems and urban design. HCD design principles need to be embedded within a social-systems engineering model that considers the overall constraints of physical and institutional processes, the cultural aspects of designs and interventions, various comfort and convenience factors at the level of individual users, and the cognitive impacts of designs – the 5C model. Application of HCD will involve a more holistic view of human-systems than is traditionally adopted by government and industry, to encompass the embedded nature of energy services in lifestyle and work. HCD methods can be useful in disaggregating the energy intensive aspects of lifestyle and work, as well as applying design principles to address the 5 C’s.