Fighting against vampire appliances through eco-aware things

This paper provides an overview of how Internet connected objects can lead to a social change towards energy efficiency in areas where people inhabit (cities, buildings or homes). For this aim it is proposed the use of social networks, like Twitter, as an interaction and communication channel between smart objects and human beings. The presented work demonstrates, by means of an experiment, how an augmented everyday object, i.e. a capsule-based coffee machine, may help to reduce the unnecessary consumed energy in electric appliances. The paper opens the discussion of the promising potential of combining people and future smart everyday objects teaming up to promote a more sustainable behaviour on the planet's behalf.