Turn Up the Heat (tidal.northwestern.edu/greenhomegames) is a cooperative family board game that encourages reflection on trade-offs related to money, comfort, and environmental sustainability (Figure 1). The game playfully confronts power dynamics associated with the use of residential thermostats to control domestic heating and cooling systems. In doing so, it addresses common misconceptions about how thermostats work (Kempton, 1986) and how they can be used to save energy and money (Peffer et al., 2011). Our game incorporates traditional elements such as cards, tokens, and a game board, but it also includes a tablet computer app as a central feature of play. The app simulates heating and cooling system based on factors such as outdoor temperatures, thermostat settings, and home insulation levels. It also gives all players (parents and children alike) the opportunity to adjust a thermostat on their turn.
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