EcoWatts

Inspiration

Powering telecom infrastructure efficiently, especially in remote or off-grid areas, remains a major challenge. With rising energy costs and sustainability concerns, we were inspired to create a solution that helps telecom providers optimize power usage, reduce carbon footprints, and better manage their energy systems without needing constant physical monitoring.

What it does

EcoWatts is a smart energy management tool that helps telecom operators monitor, predict, and optimize power usage across multiple sites. Using a combination of predictive modeling and site-specific data inputs (via structured questionnaires), it offers insights into battery health, solar efficiency, load balancing, and maintenance needs—ultimately improving sustainability and reducing energy costs.

How we built it

We built EcoWatts using Google Firebase Studio for fast app deployment, Firestore for data storage, and integrated custom forms to gather site-specific data. The backend processes this data with predictive algorithms that simulate equipment wear, power consumption patterns, and environmental factors. It works both online and offline, making it usable even in low-connectivity regions.

Challenges we ran into

Access to real-time power data from remote sites was limited, so we had to rely on predictive modeling and indirect data inputs.

Building a model that balances accuracy with ease-of-use for non-technical users took multiple iterations.

Ensuring low data consumption while delivering useful insights was technically demanding.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Developed a fully functional MVP that works in low-data environments.

Designed a predictive questionnaire model that mimics real-world telemetry with surprising accuracy.

Created a usable platform with potential impact for hundreds of telecom sites in energy-challenged regions.

What we learned

Human-centered design is crucial for sustainability tools—users must find it simple to input and act on insights.

Predictive energy modeling can be viable even in data-poor environments when paired with smart design.

Collaborative input from real telecom operators helped shape a more practical solution.

What's next for EcoWatts

We plan to integrate real-time remote monitoring (via IoT where available), improve battery lifecycle estimation using AI, and expand the app to support energy sharing between sites. We're also exploring partnerships to test EcoWatts on live telecom infrastructures.

Built With

• nextjs