Our hack was an attempt to see how the camaraderie of your social sphere could influence everyday consumption habits. Using the Tendril API, we allowed users to track their real-time electrical energy consumption data in comparison to that of their Facebook friends. In addition to being able to visualize trends in energy usage between you and your peers, users were able to commit to energy saving goals. These goals could then be shared on your Facebook wall in an effort to educate the public.

Above, you can see a screenshot of the energy consumption
comparison between you and your Facebook friends.

I am proud to say that our app took home prizes for Best User Experience and runner-up in the Tendril Energy Internet and Smart Home App Contest. It was also demoed by Tendril at DistribuTECH, the utility industry’s leading Smart Grid conference in San Antonio, Texas. It’s refreshing to see a company like Tendril taking advantage of opportunities like this Hackathon and is a testament to the fact that social media can really change the world.

The Green Carrot Team celebrating their win with Eric Shiflet of Tendril.

In addition to learning about how information technology could influence consumption habits, we also learned how an extremely limited amount of time could influence the workflow of our team. Rather than following our conventional methods for producing a web project, we chose to use a more organic approach. In the interest of saving time, our team utilized Google Drawings to create an interactive wireframe that allowed all of us to collaborate in real-time. Opportunities like this hackathon give creatives the ability to test out new methods of working together and if any part of this experience seems interesting to you I would highly recommend attending one in your local area.

This article is copyright © 2012 

On that note, we’d like to share a few of our favorite products and some of our daily green reads!

Products
Klean Kanteen (via AMZ): We rock the 27oz loop caps ourselves. More info on why these are a much better alternative to plastics @ Klean Kanteen

Wegmans ReUsable Shopping bag: Most food stores now sell these for a dollar or two- they offer a great alternative to non-biodegradable, one-use plastic bags, and function beyond groceries. If you ever catch me on my way into the Carrot HQ, chances are you’ll notice me ladden with them carry everything from my lunch to books and whatever else I can overburden myself with that day.

USBCELL AA Rechargable Batteries (via AMZ): A great option for rechargeable batteries, these conveniently charge via USB port! On sale this morning at AMZ’s Goldbox too!

Solar Panel Backpack (via AMZ) & SolarRolls power alternative: While pricey up front, these undoubtedly pay for themselves in sheer convenience and energy reduction, over time. These are on my personal wishlist for my birthday… in case any fiancés or family are reading this!

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General Green News:
Tree Hugger
Gristmill
Eco Friend
Green Daily
Lazy Environmentalist

Green Tech/Industry News:
The Green Geek
Ecotality Life
Gas 2.0

Green Shopping/living:
Etsy: A great way to support artists and find unique gifts, without industrial production and labor or fair trade concerns!
The Green Loop: A centralized resource for green products and companies
Ecolect: Their tag says it all… “[a] Community for Sustainable Design”

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Anyway, we have many more to share for anyone interested, and please feel free to leave a comment with your own favorite green links!

This article is copyright © 2012