Articles by Cecilia Aragon

Cecilia R. Aragon has a PhD in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley and is an Associate Professor of Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington (UW). She directs the Scientific Collaboration and Creativity Lab (SCCL) at UW. Her research interests include visual analytics for eScience, collaborative creativity, and usability in daily life.

Making Energy Savings Easier: Usability Metrics for Thermostats

Abstract U.S. residential thermostats control approximately 9% of the nation’s energy use. Many building codes now require programmable thermostats (PTs) because of their assumed energy savings. However, several recent field studies have shown no significant savings or even higher energy use in households using PTs compared to those using non-PTs. These studies point to usability […] [Read More]