Gamification to engage citizens in the use of smart metering systems

According to the European Union Third Internal Energy Market package, the roll-out of smart metering systems can presumably play a key role in reaching the goals of sustainability strategies by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency and achieving energy cost savings. However, the deployment of smart metering technology alone does not necessarily drive consumers to use energy in a more sustainable manner. It has been debated in literature that the role of consumers is very critical for a successful usage of smart metering technology. In order to reach the objectives of roll-out policies of smart metering systems, more attention should be paid to consumer behavior in relation to this technology. Gamification, which is the employment of game mechanics in non-game contexts, is an emerging field that can contribute significantly to drive behavioral change and engage users with respect to different areas, such as education, business, technology adoption, sustainability, among others. In this study, we discuss how gamification techniques can be used to enhance the potential of smart metering systems by encouraging sustainable energy consumption behavior in households. The study starts by classifying the relevant applications of smart metering systems and by showing how gamification can be used in each application. To do this, a number of European Research and Innovation projects that used gamification in this area are surveyed. Then, the general considerations that are important to consider when developing a gamified application are identified. Next, a list of design elements for employing gamification in smart metering systems is presented, including game requirements and game mechanics. Finally, based on the above overview, we outline the potential challenges and provide recommendations for future research directions.