ShowerSense is a strong and very relevant idea, especially because it focuses on everyday habits rather than large, expensive infrastructure.

You might also explore ways to reward or celebrate water-saving behaviour. Gentle feedback, small milestones, or even playful rewards could make the experience more positive and motivating, rather than feeling like a restriction. Framing conservation as something satisfying or fun could help people stick with better habits over time.

Peter Murphy RMIT University

I would be really interested in trialling ShowerSense within my own household, particularly given the range of perspectives on sustainability that exist among family members.

You may wish to explore behavioural change theories to help frame the underlying motivation for users, beyond simply saving money or water. For instance, considering what might meaningfully engage users could strengthen the value proposition of the product. There may also be potential to incorporate elements of gamification through an associated app to encourage ongoing engagement and behaviour change.

Look at the Green Money Program delivered by Blacktown City Council. The program uses a rewards-based model where residents can earn points through sustainable actions and redeem discounts at local businesses. This could provide a useful precedent for how incentive structures can support sustainable behaviour.

This is a really strong concept, your focus on behavioural change rather than just restriction is a good idea. I like how you’ve identified the problem of low awareness around water usage and designed a solution that encourages users to change habits without removing comfort.

One piece of feedback would be to further develop how the data is displayed to the user. For example, you could show whether it’s real-time feedback, colour changes, or set targets such as a recommended shower time to make the behaviour change more engaging.

Chris Collins

CQU ENEG12007 Creative Engineering