Innovation Type: Software (Mobile phone app)
What is this innovation about?
This innovation is related to the operational phase of syn.ikia project as it aims to involve the tenants from each demo. The goal is to raise awareness amongst tenants about the importance of energy efficient homes and SPENs in general. As part of neighbourhood user engagement processes, a mobile phone app (called “FeedMe”) will be developed to empower users (tenants and building manager) by enabling them to give direct feedback on the buildings’ indoor environment and services and to gather their satisfaction related to the indoor climate. The FeedMe app aims to overcome and solve:
FeedMe is a feedback app for the assessment of satisfaction from the indoor environment by building users. It is a mobile phone app that will be mainly used by tenants and building managers in each of the syn.ikia demos and will be translated in the local languages. The app in now available in English, German, Dutch, Spanish and Catalan, with the Norvegian version coming soon.
The app has been tested by the Austrian and Dutch partners and will be tested by the Spanish and Norwegian partners in 2024.
What kind of challenges it will solve if deployed widely
The app is specifically tailored for the syn.ikia demos – so it will engage users by giving specific information on the building and by sharing energy savings tips. In the long run, the app should help tenants be more aware of factors such as indoor air quality, humidity, noise, temperature, and light; and should serve as a tool to ‘nudge’ people’s behaviour so they can make better decisions to manage all these factors and have an optimal experience inside their flats.
It will allow residents to share their feelings and concerns about their homes (indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, and acoustics environment) in just a few clicks. (What is the temperature like? Is it too hot? too cold? How do you feel?). The goal is to raise awareness amongst tenants about the importance of energy efficient homes and SPEN in general. Residents will be able to contact building managers if they have recurring complaints.
Novel elements:
The following users will find this innovation useful:
Tenants of the syn.ikia demos, building managers and partners (HE, BPIE, DTU) Also homeowners (in the Norwegian case). Different access rights can be established for different types of users: Building manager, vs occupants
How has syn.ikia project impacted the development of this solution/ process/ tool?
This solution was originally developed for a school. In syn.ikia, this innovation is applied in the context of the housing sector for the first time. In this regard, syn.ikia contributed to develop / modify the original version of the innovation, take into account factors that are relevant to the housing sector and apply it in the housing sector.
How can this innovation be used beyond syn.ikia project?
Policymaking: growing interest in considering user feedback in monitoring tools for building efficiency (example of the Smart Readiness Indicator).
Commercial activities: the technology now is based on Bluetooth beacons, and now is the chance to develop technology to use it for residents without Bluetooth, which could open new markets.
Depending on demos’ interest, Climify could maintain the app after the project. Can explore with pilots to pay for the app beyond project lifetime. If successful, it could continue to be developed with residents in other social housing companies across Europe.
Research activities: the app has now been demonstrated in two different environments: schools and social housing building (with syn.ikia). Further research in the future could allow the app to be demonstrated in other building environments.
Contact organization:
BPIE
For more information, please see D7.9: Online Decision Support https://www.synikia.eu/resource-types/technical-reports/
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