US “Apps for Energy” competition

In 2012, as part of the US government’s efforts to promote energy savings, the US Department of Energy launched the first-ever “Apps for Energy” challenge. The programme offered USD 100 000 in cash prices to software developers that build applications for mobile phones and computers that use data provided by major utilities to help consumers consume less energy and save money. The competition stemmed from the government’s Green Button initiative, under which nine large electricity suppliers agreed to provide over 15 million households access to energy consumption data. The winners were evaluated by a multi stakeholder panel that included representatives from the electricity industry, tech industry and Department of Energy. The programme led to the development of several successful apps, including the Kill-Ur-Watts app, which tracks energy usage of consumers over time and offers customisable charts as well as the option to challenge friends and family to improve their energy savings scores and carbon footprints. 

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