Call for Papers: Special Issue of Human Factors (IF = 3.598)
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems
David Rempel
University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
Xudong Zhang
Texas A&M, College Station, TX, USA
The global investment in renewable and sustainable energy systems is critical for addressing the climate crisis. The investment is scaling up new energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, etc.; building out smart grids to transmit energy flows that fluctuate throughout the day and incorporate large-scale energy storage systems; developing green manufacturing of steel and cement; transitioning to clean automobiles, busses, trucks, trains and planes that use electricity or green hydrogen; expanding networked vehicle charging systems; incorporating smart building heating and air-conditioning systems and electrical appliances; etc. However, the rapid changes of these complex systems can be accompanied by failures that slow adoption. Human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) plays a critical role in the design for usability and reliability of such complex systems.
The proposed special issue invites contributions that address HF/E in the design and adoption of renewable and sustainable energy systems and devices. Papers can approach the topic by proposing theoretical frameworks, conducting modeling or laboratory experiments, or presenting findings from field studies on renewable and sustainable energy topics. Examples of appropriate topics include:
- technology adoption strategies that ensure a rapid (and just) transition to sustainable energy systems;
- behavioral change systems that improve the use of our energy resources;
- the design and evaluation of systems, devices, and energy supplies that improve current and meet future behavior and energy needs; and
- the role of human-system interactions to optimize performance and minimize errors in energy systems that include renewable energy.