Apps that tracks energy use wins the Energy Apps for Ontario Challenge

TORONTO - An app that tracks electricity use and shows consumers how their daily actions affect their overall energy consumption is the winner of the Energy Apps for Ontario Challenge.

The Wattson app, which was named the best app by the panel of industry experts and by public voting, received $22,500 in funding.

The apps were judged on creativity, how well they share electricity data in a standardized and secure manner, and their potential impact.

The Ontario Ministry of Energy funded the challenge and awarded a total $50,000 across six different categories.

The challenge is part of the Green Button Initiative, which allows customers to securely download their energy usage data.

This spring London Hydro and Hydro One customers will be able to connect their data with Green Button apps like Wattson.

The Wattson app, developed by Atindra Ganeshen, Saman Alvi, Shaheer Aziz, and Arjune Selvarajan, graphs energy usage and uses units of measurements people can actually understand.

Instead of kilowatts per hour, the app can convert usage to measurements like bathtubs full of water so users can visualize their energy usage.

Users can tag what they were doing during peak energy usage times, like doing laundry or using the dishwasher and the app can suggest coupons and energy efficient products based on those tags.

The Ministry of Energy says apps will help Ontario households and businesses better understand and manage their electricity use.

"When you look at who will be new home owners in the next few years, this will be second nature to them," said Minister of Energy Bob Chiarelli.