Isabel Méndez, a Fulbright–García Robles Visiting Research Scholar at UC Berkeley and postdoctoral researcher with the California Institute for Energy and Environment (CIEE) and CITRIS Climate, is inspired by collaborative, human-centered research that turns complex energy choices into user-friendly actions.
Working with Therese Peffer, Méndez is pioneering an interface that combines her previous research on smart thermostats with large language models (LLMs), creating smart devices that respond with everyday language instead of raw numbers. These AI-enhanced systems can explain energy savings, identify inefficiencies, and offer reminders in a tone that feels friendly and accessible.
Méndez strives to turn thermostats into conversational partners and serve people traditionally left out of energy tech communities, such as older adults and rural households.