Managing energy consumption and indoor environment quality using augmented reality based on the occupants' satisfaction and characteristics

This study investigated the effects of visualizing energy consumption data of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) control devices (air cooler, humidifier, and light) through an augmented reality (AR) system. The research assessed changes in energy usage, IEQ, and subjective satisfaction. Physiological responses, such as heart rate variability (HRV), electroencephalogram (EEG), electrodermal activity (EDA), and skin temperature (SKT), were measured to quantitatively gauge subjective satisfaction. The study also explored variations in energy consumption, IEQ, satisfaction, and physiological responses based on user characteristics like age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). This study found that visualizing the energy consumption of IEQ control devices through AR significantly reduced their energy usage. The air cooler's energy consumption decreased by 19.36%, the humidifier's by 42.86%, and the light's by 27.57%. This led to changes in indoor temperature and illuminance, without affecting subjects' stress levels. The analysis based on subjects' characteristics revealed correlations, such as skin temperature impacting gender, humidifier energy affecting BMI, and visual sensation being linked to age. Consequently, the study suggests a hyper-personalized AR system, considering occupants' traits, to enhance thermal and visual comfort. This system is anticipated to play a crucial role in the future development of smart home energy management systems.