Energy efficiency calculator
A B2B2C energy efficiency calculator that estimates the condition of residential buildings and suggests improvements to achieve a higher Building Energy Rating (BER). My design has attracted the interest of Hungary's largest bank.
Goal
To educate people and help them to upgrade their houses.
The energy efficiency calculator provides results that serve as a guideline for renovations. The digital product should also be educational, helping users better understand the benefits of energy efficiency.
Eltinga is a real estate research and analysis company, and their business goal was to collect data from households in Hungary to build a database that contributes to their statistical insights.
Problem statement
Over 1.5 million houses in Hungary are below class "DD".
The European Union issued:
– By 2033, the entire residential building stock must achieve an average "DD" energy class,
– from 2033 to 2050, residential buildings must transition to zero-emission standards,
– after January 1, 2028, all newly sold, leased or gifted homes must be renovated to meet the "DD" class.
The Hungarian government can provide support at any time, and the market must be prepared for it.
Eltinga identified a gap in the market and aimed to be prepared for the upcoming renovation wave with a web application that provides more detailed information than its competitors.
Research
UX researchers conducted interviews with residents (B2C) and financial companies (B2B).
The results as follows:
B2C:
– Energy-efficient solutions, particularly solar panel installations, are increasingly popular among residents.
– The primary motivation is reducing energy consumption to lower costs, though the desire to increase comfort is also a key factor.
– Price is a major consideration when choosing energy-efficient solutions.
B2B:
– Energy-efficient solutions are incorporated into their marketing strategies, but companies are slow to adapt to the rapidly changing support systems.
– They are waiting for another government subsidy to reinvigorate the market.
– While they educate their customers, there is no mature or well-established method for doing so yet.
I analyzed the information and completed desk research. Based on the research, I was able to draw a user flow.
Low-fidelity wireframes
The web application has six parts: general survey, partial results, detailed survey, full results, summary, offers.
First, users answer general questions about their homes.
– When was the property built?
– What is the heated floor area of the property?
– What kind of heating system does the property have?
– What kind of hot water production system does the property have?
– What types of windows does the property have?
– How thick is the thermal insulation of the property's wall?
– Does the property have solar panels?
– Enter the zip code of the property.
After signing up, users can continue completing the survey to receive more detailed results, along with upgrade recommendations.
– What type of roof does the property have?
– What is the roof insulation of the property made of?
– What type of ventilation does the property have?
– Enter the address of the property.
– Does the property have an energy certificate?
– What is the total annual consumption of the property?
High-fidelity wireframes
After several meetings with the client, we finalized the content of the calculator and delivered the UI design.
Before signing up, users receive partial results about their homes. If the class is below "DD," the calculator shows how much they could save annually by reaching "DD" status. If the home is already rated "DD" or higher, the calculator also provides suggestions for a higher class. However, "DD" is the default value, as this is the target set by the European Union.
With the full results, users receive specific renovation tips.
The upgrade tips may include suggestions for heating, window and door replacement, thermal insulation and solar panel installation. Each one shows the expected investment, potential savings and reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. As it's selected, the home's energy class may improve.
Additionally, they can receive personalized offers for their homes, such as financial support.
Impact overview
The calculator caught the attention of several leading companies, including OTP Bank.
The product wasn't launched because Eltinga wanted to retain ownership of the calculator because of the collected data while their potential partners wanted to purchase the logic behind it entirely, so the deals didn't materialize. Eventually, the project got scrapped.
Personally, I believe the calculator was a great idea because home renovation is crucial, and Hungary lags behind other European countries in this area. Findings show that Hungarians are interested in home renovation, and banks are here to support them, but many people lack sufficient information about improvement opportunities as well as the condition of their own homes.