A systematic mapping study on software approaches analyzing human behavior in energy efficiency

Abstract

In light of escalating carbon emissions and the increasing pressures on energy production, we believe it is essential to examine both: 1. The role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as either an enabler or a barrier to sustainability. 2. The role of human behavior, ranging from a contributing factor to energy consumption to a critical element in achieving energy optimizations. To address these factors, we conducted a systematic mapping study on software-based strategies for optimizing energy consumption, with a particular focus on incorporating human involvement in the process. Our findings indicate that ICT often serves as a facilitator of sustainability, especially in residential and commercial environments. However, the role of human behavior is more nuanced. By examining the energy optimization process as a loop consisting of four phases—monitoring, analysis, planning, and action—we found that human involvement spans multiple stages of this loop. While direct intervention in human behavior is commonly accepted and effective in residential contexts, this approach does not translate as directly to ICT, which tends to prioritize automated optimization. The aim of this paper is to raise awareness about these dynamics, explore how ICT is currently utilized to optimize energy use in residential settings, and suggest ways to adapt these approaches to make ICT itself more sustainable.