Does Fan Feel and Visibility during Thermostat Interaction Affect Temperature Selection in Warm Ambient Conditions?

A vicious cycle exists when higher global temperatures increase the demand for indoor air-conditioning, which consumes significant energy while heating the outdoors. These higher outdoor temperatures then prompt more air-conditioning use. This unsustainable cycle motivated us to develop an intervention to encourage energy-efficient temperature adjustments during warm ambient conditions. We explored whether an experimental thermostat interface, which incorporated mechanical fans, affected individual thermostat-setting behavior. Experiment parameters were 1) feel versus do-not-feel fan, and 2) high- versus low-visibility fan. Participants were 23 university students, including 20 enrolled in an introductory psychology course. When prompted to make temperature adjustments, we found that participants who felt the fan selected higher (more energy-efficient) temperatures in warm weather. This effect held regardless of whether participants could clearly see the fan or not. These results inform how products can be designed to increase energy-conscious behaviors.