ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the relationship between design and mental models. It discusses the concept of mental models in design, to elicit behaviour change that results in increased achievement of home-heating goals. The chapter provides a clear picture of the problems householders have when operating energy-consuming technology in the home, and highlighted home-heating devices as presenting substantial difficulties. It considers the existing design meets recommendations for improving interaction with energy-consuming devices in the home. The chapter also discusses the redesign of home-heating controls with the form of a 'control panel' to promote a compatible user mental model (CUMM) of a typical home-heating system. It describes the development of a simulation to test the effectiveness of the redesign, as well as changes resulting from a pilot. The chapter proposes that the designer consider the redesign of home-heating controls at the system level to evoke functional mental models in the user.
