VELObill - The Utility Bill of the Future
WINNER: Best Overall Application – Third Prize
WINNER: Popular Choice Award – Grand Prize
WHY VELObill?
Traditional utility bills are difficult to read and full of unneeded information. Consumers lack the relevant information that will help them manage utility costs and make smart decisions about consumption.
VELObill makes it easy and rewarding to use Green Button data. With just a few clicks, consumers can view their utility usage, measure whether it is high or low, compare it to that of their peers and examine ways to save money. With this useful information in-hand, users will create an energy saving action plan and decide whether to change consumption habits or seek an infrastructure upgrade to their home.
WHAT DOES VELObill DO?
- Experience what it’s like to upload real data from Green Button
- Display electricity, natural gas and water consumption in a simple, single view
- View past usage and peak-demand usage to uncover savings opportunities
- Compare your usage to that of your neighbors or your friends
- Set goals to reduce energy and track progress over time
- Evaluate the cost and payback of energy efficiency upgrades
- Set a budget and find local contractors to help meet your goals
GET STARTED
- Visit the VELObill portal.
- Click on the Green Button to test drive VELObill.
- Experience what it's like to upload your own Green Button data.
- Go to www.zerofootprint.net to view and download a sample of Green Button data set.
Check out the READ ME file for detailed instructions on how to navigate through the App.
35 comments
Rob O'Neil • about 11 years ago
This app really covers everything that a consumer is looking for! Great, informative graphics and lots of tips to start saving! Finally something we can use to compete with our neighbors.
Omri Stern • about 11 years ago
Thanks Rob O and S M!
Great to hear you enjoy the comparative features. We put a lot of love into the design and user-experience.
Cheers,
Team VELObill
Omri Stern • about 11 years ago
Hello VELObill users,
Some of you have requested access to a demo account of VELObill. Ask and you shall receive!
Here's how to create a demo account.
1. Visit http://greenbutton.sit.zfp.ca:8080/results/dashboard
2. Click on "Measure Me" in the lower left nav.
3. Once you arrive, create a demo location in the blue panel on the left. Enter this profile info:
Location Name: My House
ZIP Code: 94920
Peer Group: My Friends
Size: 2000 Sq. Ft.
Occupants: 2
Heating Type: Electricity
Water Heating Type: Fuel
3. Submit an email and invent a password.
4. Lastly, fill in the following utility account information:
Utility Provider: Pacific Gas and Electric
Utility Number: 9594300521-8
Utility Password: Footprint
That's it! You're in with access to a VELObill account in San Francisco, California.
To view a step-by-step guide on how to use VELObill, check out the READ ME file provided on "Attached Files" to the right.
Enjoy!
Team VELObill
Jenni Snell • about 11 years ago
i like that i can make a savings plan. how long does it take to get from the yellow zone to the green zone?
Sneha Deore • about 11 years ago
Its a good app!!!
Omri Stern • about 11 years ago
Thanks for you feedback everyone!
Jenni, great question. To get into the green zone, we recommend adjusting consumption habits and considering an upgrade to your home.
The next release if VELObill will include a color coded slider that shows exactly what you need to do and how much you could save by reaching the green zone.
Thanks for your feedback!
Team VELObill
David Kirkby • about 11 years ago
The sample data mentioned in your Getting Started guide appears to be in excel format and not GreenButton data:
http://clients.benjaminmoody.com/zerofootprint/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/VELO-Green-Button-Sample-Data-Coastal-Single-Family.xls
Am I looking in the wrong place?
ron dembo • about 11 years ago
Nope you are looking at the right data. What you see here is a flat file export of the data to Excel. So, whereas the APP reads from multiple formats, it has an export function that allows people who can read Excel to see their data.
vincent john vincent • about 11 years ago
I have always loved the work of ZeroFootPrint.......
Omri Stern • about 11 years ago
Thank you Vincent. You make our work worthwhile.
Encourage your friends and colleagues to vote too!
David Kirkby • about 11 years ago
Ok, thanks Ron. It looks like you are aggregating data from several utilities, so it could be useful to export that in GreenButton format, e.g., for inter-operating with other GreenButton apps.
Is there some way I can upload my own GreenButton data to try it out in your app?
Peter Rose • about 11 years ago
Looked the top five apps the user interface and design of this one is far superior than the competition!
Omri Stern • about 11 years ago
Thanks Peter. Our hope is to make the user experience a simple and enjoyable one.
ron dembo • about 11 years ago
David K
we could arrange for you to upload your own greenbutton data. Who is your utility and where do you live? Do you have access to your gas and water values?
David Kirkby • about 11 years ago
Thanks for the offer Ron. My utility does not provide GreenButton data yet (here in the backwaters of Southern California) but I have some sample data and was just interested to compare how different apps load and present the same data file.
ron dembo • about 11 years ago
David
If you wish we could send you an Excel template that you could fill in and show you how to load data from that standard format.
It would look much like the Excel file that you downloaded.
ron dembo • about 11 years ago
Better still David, why don't we lobby your utility to join Greenbutton?
David Kirkby • about 11 years ago
Good idea! Southern California Edison already prominently displays a "GreenButton download my data" button using the official GreenButton logo. However, clicking this button only downloads a csv file of one day (one reading per hour) or one month (one reading per day) that is definitely not in GreenButton format.
William Wagner • about 11 years ago
Hi VeloBill
I have been trying to figure out how to upload my own green button data but it doesnt seem to be working on your app.
To all the others in this discussion we actually extracted our own green button from our utility's website, con edison. Check it out: http://beta.econofy.com/coned
ron dembo • about 11 years ago
Hi William,
We will upload your data when we get in tomorrow.
best
ron
ron dembo • about 11 years ago
PS William
connect with info@zerofootprint.net and we will show you your data in VELObill
Dana Cuff • about 11 years ago
Ron - Another one of your smart and simple strategies to keep energy info clear -- nice work. -
Damian Chen • about 11 years ago
Great idea!!! - I could never bother to understand my bills and this will help greatly.
Declan French • about 11 years ago
Greenbutton is an awesome App
Omri Stern • about 11 years ago
Thanks for your positive feedback.
Check out what people are saying on Twitter! http://bit.ly/JaME9b