Animistic and anthropomorphic principles have long been investigated along with affective computing in both HCI and HRI research, to reduce user frustration and create more emotive yet relatable devices, robots, products and artefacts. Yet such artefacts and research have mainly been from user-centric perspectives and the animistic characteristics localised to single objects. In this exploratory paper, we take these principles in a new direction by attempting to invoke animistic characteristics of a room or a space itself. Designing primarily for space itself rather than the user or a single product, allows us to create new interactions and narratives that can induce animism and empathy for the space, in users. This leads to the creation of a prototype space, which we use to investigate how users approach, interact and behave in such a space, yielding several insights and user behaviour, all of which can be used for further studies, capable of generating new interaction perspectives and providing insights into user behaviour. We conclude by discussing the potentiality of such spaces in developing new strategies for behaviour change and HCI.

The adoption of photovoltaic (PV) panels, electric vehicles (EVs), and dynamic electricity pricing is transforming households into active "prosumers" who generate, consume, and sell electricity. This shift, driven by rising costs and environmental concerns, requires new technologies to help households manage their production and consumption. Electricity’s invisibility adds complexity, necessitating interfaces that make energy use and generation comprehensible. This paper presents the Always-On In-Home Display (AOIHD), a technology probe designed for prosumer households to navigate the dynamics of this production and consumption - balancing periods of solar abundance and grid reliance, by making energy data persistently and collectively accessible within the household. Adopting a practice theory lens, we explore how the AOIHD was experienced in daily life over a four-year autobiographical study and through deployments in other Swedish households. Our findings highlight four experiential qualities—Learning, Triggering, Including, and Troubling—that illustrate how the display supports the domestication of energy feedback technologies in prosumer contexts. We argue that fostering integration into household practices is key to sustaining meaningful interaction with smart energy technologies.

The climate impact of our food consumption is a key issue to sustainability. Yet understanding the food system and the impact it has can be difficult given its abstract nature. In this paper, we report on a Research through Design project aimed at designing and evaluating a data physicalization for supporting collective sense-making of the climate impact of food. Throughout the design process, we have explored the materiality of CO2 emissions and ways to design with less resource use. The resulting data physicalization, Carbon Scales, was evaluated in a three-week field study with 27 participants. Our findings show that collective sense-making can be enabled through interactive data physicalizations and that this can lead to carbon literacy. We expand on a) sustainability through design by arguing for the value of artifacts that let people stay in the interaction as this can support collective sense-making and b) sustainability in design by showcasing the value of designing with an interaction-first and materials-second mindset.

Food systems contribute approximately 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making food carbonliteracy crucial for climate change mitigation. However, traditional communication of carbon footprint datathrough abstract metrics like CO2 equivalents (CO2eq) and representations such as graphs and figures faces significant barriers: experiential vagueness, scale comprehension difficulties, and emotional detachment that widens not only understanding but also the knowledge-action gap. This study explores data physicalization as an alternative approach to foster embodied engagement with environmental data.We designed and tested a hands-on pedagogical activity using food replicas weighted proportionally to their CO2 equivalent emissions, allowing participants to literally ‘feel’ the carbon footprint of different food choices. The activity was deployed primarily at a public science outreach event with young adults. Data collection employed survey methodology to capture participant responses and learning outcomes,supplemented by a collective research diary. Through a content analysis of the quantitative survey dataand thematic analysis of the qualitative survey responses, we identify patterns in participant engagement and learning - relating to surprise and increased engagement with the data, the story behind it, as well as emotional reactions to the data. Our results provide insights into the effectiveness of such embodied approaches in environmental education. This work contributes to environmental education by: (1)demonstrating the efficacy of physicalization for carbon literacy education, (2) providing empirical evidence of enhanced engagement through embodied approaches, and (3) offering practical guidelines for educators. While promising for improving understanding, translating this awareness into sustained behavioral change remains a challenge requiring further research.

Despite the recognized importance of citizen participation in the energy transition, many community energy initiatives face persistent challenges with low participation rates and implementation barriers. While the European Union's Clean Energy for all Europeans package has promoted 'energy communities' (ECs) as a vehicle for meaningful citizen engagement, questions remain about how and why citizens participate in these initiatives. This study addresses a significant gap in the literature by examining energy communities through the theoretical lens of communities of practice (CoP), focusing specifically on learning processes that enable successful citizen participation in such energy initiatives. Drawing from a 2.5-year longitudinal study of a Swedish energy community initiative, this research uses interviews, documents, and community meeting observations to examine how citizens engage as 'energy managers' for housing associations. Applying a CoP framework, we identify nested learning structures that facilitate collective knowledge sharing and experiential learning among energymanagers. Our findings reveal a novel organizational model where collective legal entities rather than individuals serve as members, suggesting new engagement pathways through representative democracy. The study demonstrates how knowledge transfer through peer learning creates practical wisdom around implementation challenges especially within ECs. Energy managers emerge as pivotal intermediaries whose relational networks, especially within CoPs directly influence energy outcomes. This research contributes to understanding energy communities beyond traditional place or interest framings, revealing how relational work and knowledge-sharing practices underpin successful formation. The findings suggest that supporting intermediaries and nurturing social learning processes could enhance citizen participation in the energy transition.