# CS-40: Household energy-use understanding

Category: Sustainability & local living
Level: Advanced
Suggested duration: 4–6 weeks

Original UXCharan practice scenario. Validate assumptions; do not present it as a commissioned client project.

## Problem
A fictional dashboard shows complex charts but no explanation of estimated readings or time periods. Explore how a household can inspect changes and compare similar periods without implying that correlation proves a cause.

## People to learn from
Households reviewing synthetic energy-use data

## Core scope
- Review usage
- compare periods
- inspect an unusual change

## Research questions
- Which comparisons are useful?
- How do people interpret estimates?

## Edge cases
- Missing readings
- unequal time periods

## Specific artefact
A chart system and uncertainty annotations

## Evaluation question
Can participants explain a change without mistaking an estimate for a measurement?

## Work to share
Problem and role; anonymised evidence; alternatives and rationale; task flow; prototype; accessibility considerations; testing findings; revisions and honest limitations.

## Request feedback
Share a viewable Figma, document or portfolio link with Saicharan on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/917093809350
Include CS-40, your name, project stage and your main feedback question. Confirm review scope, timing and any fee directly.

## Methods
- Research planning: https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/user-research/plan-user-research-for-your-service
- Research consent: https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/user-research/getting-users-consent-for-research
- Design exploration: https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/resources/the-double-diamond/
- Usability testing: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/usability-testing-101/
- Accessible forms: https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/forms/
- Portfolio storytelling: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ux-design-portfolios/