Réchauffement climatique : les contributions possibles de la psychologie ergonomique et de l'interaction humain-machine à la réduction de la consommation d'énergie

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La modification des comportements de consommation d’énergie semble désormais la solution privilégiée pour freiner le réchauffement climatique, compte tenu de l’urgence de la situation. Mais la modification de ces comportements n’est pas chose facile. Si la psychologie a permis de comprendre les réactions des gens face au réchauffement climatique et d’identifier les barrières aux changements, elle a aussi mis en place des programmes d’intervention et évalué leurs impacts. Ce faisant, la psychologie et ses sous-disciplines se sont rendu compte de la nécessité d’une approche multidisciplinaire et notamment de l’importance des technologies de l’information et du divertissement. Cet article présente quelques-unes des recherches réalisées en psychologie et en interaction humain-ordinateur pour solutionner ce problème et discute de la nécessité d’une meilleure articulation de ces deux disciplines.

Global warming: possible contributions from cognitive ergonomics and human-computer interaction to the reduction of energy consumptionScientific evidence clearly indicates that the earth is warming and that this warming is already affecting our climate. This global warming is due largely to human activity, which is responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases, especially CO2 and methane. According to climatologists, changing human energy-consumption behaviours now appears to be the best, and probably the only possible option, given the urgency of the situation. However, changing human energy-consumption behaviours is not easy. Psychological studies have identified general psychological barriers that limit or hinder these behaviour changes (limited cognition, ideologies, comparison with other people, perceived risk...), and it has proposed different kinds of interventions (e.g., information, feedback, social motives, financial incentives...). However, it is clear that psychologists must work with other scientists in order to find better solutions for changing behaviours. Scientists from the human-computer interaction ( hci) field have also been concerned by climate change and have developed different approaches to reducing energy and material consumption. Principles such as linking invention and disposal, promoting renewal and reuse, quality and equality, de-coupling ownership and identity, and using natural models and reflection have been proposed to reduce the consumption of both energy and resources while developing software and hardware. In addition to those technology-centred principles, two other principles have been proposed: making people aware of their energy consumption and persuading people to change their consumption behaviours. Making people aware of their energy consumption has been facilitated by ambient awareness systems (devices and physical systems, visualizations...) and by attitude and behaviour changes through persuasive technologies. Although scientists in this field have been creative, the impact of their propositions has seldom been evaluated. This paper briefly reviews the topics listed above, discusses some issues, and proposes some research avenues.