Towards Energy Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability : Methodology and Tools for Realising Product Service System for Enhanced Product Features Using Software Agent

This book presents a research study on methodology and tools for the realisation of product service systems for consumer products to facilitate the efficient energy use, enhanced service & maintenance, and environmental sustainability. The innovative aspect of methodology is the incorporation of product life cycle data acquisition, supported with information and communication technologies (e.g. software agent, information system) to enable enhanced product features. The benefits include information that encourages better use of products to reduce energy consumption, decreased downtime from enhanced service and maintenance, and waste minimisation via support for reuse and recycling. The research study can open new horizons for product design which are sustainable, energy efficient and environmentally sensitive. It can also contribute to the wider exploration of eco-design and development of next generation consumer products (e.g. smart home appliances).