From Raising Awareness to a Behavioural Change: A Case Study of Indoor Air Quality Improvement Using IoT and COM-B Model

Abstract

The topic of indoor air pollution has yet to receive the same level of attention as ambient pollution. We spend considerable time indoors, and poorer indoor air quality affects most of us, particularly people with respiratory and other health conditions. There is a pressing need for methodological case studies focusing on informing households about the causes and harms of indoor air pollution and supporting changes in behaviour around different indoor activities that cause it. The use of indoor air quality (IAQ) sensor data to support behaviour change is the focus of our research in this paper. We have conducted two studies—first, to evaluate the effectiveness of the IAQ data visualisation as a trigger for the natural reflection capability of human beings to raise awareness. This study was performed without the scaffolding of a formal behaviour change model. In the second study, we showcase how a behaviour psychology model, COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation-Behaviour), can be operationalised as a means of digital intervention to support behaviour change. We have developed four digital interventions manifested through a digital platform. We have demonstrated that it is possible to change behaviour concerning indoor activities using the COM-B model. We have also observed a measurable change in indoor air quality. In addition, qualitative analysis has shown that the awareness level among occupants has improved due to our approach of utilising IoT sensor data with COM-B-based digital interventions.