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Picture represents after the user logs in with their electricity usage as well as savings.
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Arduino with Electrical/Circuit Components
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Arduino Code
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MathLab
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MathLab
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MathLab
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MathLab
Green Gale
Inspiration
As inflation rises, it has become increasingly difficult to save money, and energy consumption is a major contributor to daily expenses. At the same time, the impact of energy usage on the environment is undeniable. Our team was inspired to take on both challenges by developing Green Gale. The goal was to create a project that not only helps people save money by monitoring their energy usage but also promotes sustainable living by harnessing clean energy from wind.
What it does
Green Gale is a model windmill system that generates energy using an Arduino/Genuino 101. The energy data collected from the windmill is uploaded to a web-based dashboard, where users can easily see how much energy they've generated and how much money they've saved. The project aims to raise awareness about energy consumption and provide users with financial insights to promote smarter energy use.
How we built it
We built Green Gale using an Arduino/Genuino 101 to control the windmill model, which simulates wind energy generation. The windmill’s voltage output was monitored, and this data was uploaded to a custom-built website using a Flask-based backend. We used SQLite as our database to store energy data, and the React frontend allows users to see their energy production and financial savings in real-time. The entire system was designed to make complex energy data accessible and understandable to users.
Challenges we ran into
One of the biggest challenges was integrating the hardware components with the software. Setting up communication between the Arduino and the web application was tricky, and there were many technical difficulties in ensuring that the energy data was correctly captured and displayed. We also faced some hurdles while learning how to use SQLite for storing and managing the energy data.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We are proud of successfully building a functional model that demonstrates how wind energy can be tracked and monetized. From constructing the windmill model to developing a user-friendly interface, each piece came together to make Green Gale a complete solution. We’re especially proud of learning new tools and technologies such as SQLite and managing to integrate them into the project.
What we learned
Throughout this project, we learned a lot about how to combine hardware and software into a cohesive system. Working with Arduino was a valuable experience, and we deepened our knowledge of web development by using Flask for the backend and React for the frontend. We also gained a better understanding of database management by working with SQLite.
What's next for Green Gale
Our next step for Green Gale is to build a mobile application that allows users to easily track their energy generation and financial savings on the go. We believe that making this data accessible on mobile devices will further empower users to monitor and reduce their energy consumption, contributing to both financial literacy and environmental sustainability.
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