Carlos Correa
Sustainable
Energy Planner
Date
January 2023
Role
UX Designer
Project
Responsive Website
Links
The Sustainable Energy Planner is a tool designed to encourage the adoption of sustainable energy by companies and environmentally conscious individuals, by developing a tool, that will assist them in evaluating the feasibility of implementing renewable energy solutions in locations of their choice.
Technologies
Adobe- XD, Photoshop, Illustrator
Context
Problem
One of the key challenges in sustainable energy adoption is the lack of awareness and understanding of the sources of energy that power our daily lives.
Goal
Through education and awareness-raising efforts, our aim is to empower individuals and companies to take an active role in the transition to sustainable energy sources, thereby having a positive impact on the adoption of renewable energy in our society.
User Research
Given the widely held belief that individuals would choose sustainable energy options if provided with the necessary information and resources, I conducted research to identify the barriers preventing eco-conscious individuals from transitioning to renewable energy sources.
Design Process
01. PAPER WIREFRAMES
I conducted an ideation phase focused on designing a tool that can be easily understood and used by a broad range of users, rather than being limited to trained professionals.
02. DIGITAL WIREFRAMES
After the ideation phase I created the initial designs of the Sustainable Energy Planner app, focusing on providing users with the most relevant information without overwhelming them.
03. LO-FI PROTOTYPE
Concluding with the initial wireframes, I created the first Lo-fi prototype, which saw users through a simulated search.
Usability Study
Parameters
Study Type
Unmoderated Usability Study
Location
USA, Remote
Participants
7
Duration
30 - 60 mins
Findings
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Users showed interested in several energy sources, not only solar.
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Viability is the main deciding factor for people to switch to sustainable energy sources.
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People feel intimidated and overwhelmed by the amount of information displayed at once.
04. HI-FI PROTOTYPE
Based on insights from the usability study I applied design changes like minimizing the amount of information displayed at once in multiple sections of the app.
Additional changes include the ability to save and compare previous results.
Accessibility
Filters
Filters are organized in a row, allowing users with disabilities to jump between filters without issues.
Focus Content
The map and its search bar/filters take front and center, allowing users to complete the user flow with as few interactions as possible.
Easy Access
The recent results section allows users to jump to previous results without having to perform and refine a search.
Responsive Design
The responsive design variations include screen sizes for phones and personal computers.
Each size still has simplicity and ease of use as its main objective.
User Menu
User Menu
Search
Homepage
Search result
Impact
The Sustainable Energy Planner provides a valuable resource for both individuals and organizations seeking reliable information on sustainable energy options. By making this information easily accessible, our goal to promote and facilitate the adoption of renewable energy sources will ultimately contribute to a more sustainable future for all.
Conclusion
Through my research, I discovered that by focusing on addressing a specific challenge for a broad user base, the resulting solution can have a far-reaching impact that extends beyond the original scope, resulting in a wider positive impact on society as a whole.
Next Steps
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Continued research on how successfully the app responds the users’ queries
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Add private company contact and incentives in the results to promote individuals or companies to switch or invest in sustainable energy sources
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Add more informational resources in regards to sustainable energy for users