IoT-Enabled Digital Nudge Architecture for Sustainable Energy Behavior: An SEM-PLS Approach

Feisal Hadi Masmali; Syed Md Faisal Ali Khan; Tahir Hakim

doi:10.3390/technologies13110504

journal article Open Access Nov 01, 2025

IoT-Enabled Digital Nudge Architecture for Sustainable Energy Behavior: An SEM-PLS Approach

Feisal Hadi Masmali

Syed Md Faisal Ali Khan

Tahir Hakim

Technologies Vol. 13 No. 11 pp. 504 · MDPI AG

View at Publisher Save 10.3390/technologies13110504

Abstract

The growing need for sustainable energy practices necessitates technology-driven interventions that can effectively bridge the disparity between consumer intentions and actual behavior. This paper formulates and empirically substantiates an IoT-enabled digital nudge architecture designed to promote sustainable energy behavior. The architecture provides goal-setting, social comparison, feedback, and informational nudges across multiple digital channels, utilizing linked devices, data processing layers, and a rule-based nudge engine. An 815-responder survey was analyzed using structural equation modeling with partial least squares (SEM-PLS) to identify the drivers of sustainable energy behavior and explore technology readiness as a moderating factor. The results show that nudges utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT) significantly enhance the alignment between intention and behavior. Goal-setting and feedback mechanisms have the highest effects. The findings also demonstrate that being ready for new technology improves nudge response, highlighting the importance of user-centered system design. This paper presents a scalable infrastructure for integrating IoT into sustainability projects, as well as theoretical contributions to technology adoption and behavioral intervention research. The study enhances the dialogue on environmental technology by illustrating the implementation of digital nudges through IoT infrastructures to expedite progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Details

Published: Nov 01, 2025
Vol/Issue: 13(11)
Pages: 504
License: View

Authors

F

Feisal Hadi Masmali

Department of Management Information Systems, College of Business, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia

S

Syed Md Faisal Ali Khan

Department of Management Information Systems, College of Business, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia

T

Tahir Hakim

Department of Management Information Systems, College of Business, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia

Funding

Jazan University, Saudi Arabia

Cite This Article

Feisal Hadi Masmali, Syed Md Faisal Ali Khan, Tahir Hakim (2025). IoT-Enabled Digital Nudge Architecture for Sustainable Energy Behavior: An SEM-PLS Approach. Technologies, 13(11), 504. https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13110504

IoT-Enabled Digital Nudge Architecture for Sustainable Energy Behavior: An SEM-PLS Approach

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