The Department of Energy today released the names of the winners of the Green Button challenge, underlining links between the vibrant IT sector, smart grid and traditional energy business. Learn more from the Department here:
BEST OVERALL APP GRAND PRIZE: LEAFULLY
This app is the brainchild of Seattle-based team, Timothy Edgar and Nathan Jhaveri who describe themselves as “two developers with an idea.” Their app submission, Leafully, helps utility customers visualize their Green Button data as a variety of units, such as the amount of trees needed to offset an individual’s energy usage. Leafully encourages users to set energy savings goals and to share their progress on Facebook.
BEST OVERALL APP SECOND PRIZE : MELON
DC-based startup Melon describes itself as the first company to utilize Green Button data to simplify the process of obtaining an ENERGY STAR benchmark for commercial buildings. The app uses Green Button to evaluate the energy performance of commercial buildings.
BEST OVERALL APP THIRD PRIZE : VELOBILL
Cleantech software and services company Zerofootprint’s VELObill app helps makes it easier for utility customers to view their energy usage, measure whether it is high or low, and compare it to that of their peers. With this information in hand, users can create an energy saving action plan tailored to their individual needs and preferences.
BEST STUDENT APP GRAND PRIZE: WOTZ
The wotz app, submitted by a team from the University of California, Irvine, lets users explore and play with Green Button data. The app provides several games based on the “shape” of your data, and provides creative comparisons to illustrate your usage, like how many cheeseburgers worth of energy you used last Tuesday from 5-6 pm.
BEST STUDENT APP SECOND PRIZE: BUDGET IT YOURSELF
The Budget it Yourself app is a collaborative project from a team of students at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Institute of Art. The app helps users track their energy usage and make energy-savings goals.
The Popular Choice and Demand Shifting Awards will also be announced after the conclusion of a public voting period at 8 p.m. EDT on May 31.
The copy above comes from the Apps for Energy Challenge Website.
