ecoGator – a smartphone app building on the EU energy label

Panel: 7. Appliances, product policy and the ICT supply chain

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Kerstin Schilcher, Österreichische Energieagentur - Austrian Energy Agency, Austria
Thomas Bogner, Austrian Energy Agency
Sophie Attali, Guide Topten

Abstract

The main objective of this initiative – co-funded by the EU programme IEE and conducted by a consortium of 12 partners – is to support consumers in their purchase decisions by providing up-to-date information about the most energy efficient products on the market and by supporting consumers in leading an energy efficient and eco-conscious lifestyle.

The European wide “myEconavigator” campaign supports customers by providing easy to handle mobile accessible information based on our APP ecoGator for the selection of highly efficient products on the market. ecoGator is the first app which can scan and process data from the EU energy label by using a smartphone’s built in camera. Users simply point to the EU Energy labels attached on fridges, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers or TVs. After scanning the label a traffic light clearly indicates, if the product belongs to the most efficient 20% of all products on the market, based on topten platforms. The ecoGator app is easy to use and can be accessed through mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets for product identification and in-store advice, covering the most relevant consumer decision-making criteria, namely: cost, product features and energy efficiency.

Furthermore, ecoGator provides a the day-to-day mode which encourages the consumer through the integration of playful elements to lead a more sustainable lifestyle and to use the mobile application on a more regular basis (i.e. the user is invited to put theoretical knowledge into practice by performing challenges which can easily be integrated into their daily lives, and is invited to try out a quiz to test their level of understanding).

In addition, smartphone optimized consumer web portals (10 national web portals) were rolled out in order to raise awareness of the benefits of energy efficient and sustainable products. This project specifically targets the online ‘early adopters’ and ‘early majority’ (also called internet natives) but will also serve the more than 70% of European households that are connected to the Internet aiming at energy aware purchase decisions and effective change of user behaviour regarding every day energy use.