The Energy Apps for Ontario Challenge is offering $50,000 in funding to software developers for the best new, proof-of-concept apps that help Ontarians unlock the potential of Green Button-enabled electricity data. Green Button is a standard which offers a secure way for consumers to share electricity data from smart meters. Apps can help Ontario households and businesses better understand and manage their electricity use, so they can make informed decisions and take action.

Find out more about how the Green Button Initiative is helping drive electricity conservation and economic growth on the Resources page.

Organized by MaRS Discovery District and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Energy, the Energy Apps for Ontario Challenge is open primarily to Ontario residents and businesses; however, residents of the United States and the rest of Canada (excluding Quebec) may compete in the Best App Created Outside of Ontario category.

To get access to the resources needed for the Energy Apps for Ontario Challenge please visit the Resources page. 

Eligibility

Participants: Individuals who have reached the age of majority where they live at the time of entry, and are residents of either the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec); teams of eligible individuals as well as organizations.

  • Ontario residents may compete for the Gold, Silver, Bronze, Best Student App and People’s Choice Awards.
  • Non-Ontario residents (excluding residents of Quebec) may compete in the Best App Created Outside of Ontario category.

Requirements

What to create and submit: 

  • A functioning proof of concept app using the Green Button “Connect My Data” standard API;
  • A YouTube or Vimeo video demonstrating the functionality of your working app; and
  • One or more screenshots of your app and the means to access your app for testing/judging, such as a URL, installation file or shared test build. 

Platforms:  Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows PC, Mac OS, web and mobile web.

New & existing apps: Apps may be newly created or pre-existing. If you're submitting a pre-existing app (developed prior to this competition), you must make sure that it: A) didn't use the Green Button “Connect My Data” standard API before the competition; and B) includes new features and functionality added after start of the challenge.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

Gold Award

(open to Ontario residents only)

Silver Award

(open to Ontario residents only)

Bronze Award

(open to Ontario residents only)

Best Student App

Created by a university student or team comprising at least 50% university students (open to Ontario residents only).

People's Choice Award

(open to Ontario residents only)

Best App Created Outside of Ontario

(open to non-Ontario residents only)

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

How to enter

  1. Click “Register” to sign up. 
  2. Visit the Resources page to sign up for access to the “Green Button Download My Data” standard, the Green Button “Connect My Data” standard, the Green Button Connect My Data Ontario Reference Architecture and the Green Button Connect My Data Test Lab for Ontario.
  3. Create a working proof of concept software application that utilizes the Ontario Green Button Connect My Data standard API.
  4. Create a demonstration video (YouTube or Vimeo) that walks through the main functionality of the Application via screencast or video.
  5. Provide a way for us to access your Application by including an installation file with your submission, sharing a test build, or by providing a URL where your Application can be accessed for testing and judging.
  6. Submit your Application by 5:00pm Eastern Time on January 21, 2014 by providing: 1) access to your Application for testing; 2) screenshots of your working Application; 3) a video (YouTube/ Vimeo) demonstrating your working Application; and 4) all other required fields.

Note: For information about privacy, please visit ChallengePost's privacy policy and check out the Ontario Privacy Commissioner's 7 Foundational Principles of Privacy by Design and recent paper, Privacy by Design: Fundamentals for Smart Grid App Developers.

Judges

David Crow

David Crow
Catalyst for hire/Consultant

Jane Allen

Jane Allen
Chief Diversity Officer, Deloitte

Jim Burpee

Jim Burpee
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Electricity Association

Satish Kanwar

Satish Kanwar
Director of Operations, Shopify

Tom Chapman

Tom Chapman
Economics and Policy, Independent Electricity System Operator

Tom Rand

Tom Rand
Cleantech Investor, Advisor, Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur

Whitney Rockley

Whitney Rockley
Co-Founder, McRock Capital

Judging Criteria

  • Quality of Idea
    Includes creativity and originality.
  • Implementation of Idea
    Includes how well the idea was executed by the developer and how well the app integrates the Green Button “Connect My Data” standard API.
  • Potential Impact
    Includes the strength of the application’s potential to help individuals, organizations, and communities make informed decisions about their electricity use.

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