Inspiration
As a homeowner frustrated by soaring utility bills and vague "green home" advice, I wanted to create something tangible— a tool that turns overwhelming energy efficiency info into clear, actionable steps. Watching neighbors struggle to navigate rebates and unvetted contractors sealed the idea: simplicity was key.
What it does
Green Home Audit is a web platform that gives homeowners an energy efficiency score, personalized improvement plans, curated rebate info, and access to certified local contractors—all in a clean, intuitive interface. It cuts through the noise to focus on what matters: saving money, lowering carbon footprints, and boosting home value.
How we built it
We started with wireframing core tabs (Audit, Upgrade Guides, Rebates, Contractors) in Figma, aligning with Western SaaS design principles for usability. We coded the frontend with HTML/CSS/JavaScript (React for interactivity), prioritizing responsive design to work on phones and desktops. We focused on color psychology (calming greens, soft blues) to keep the experience approachable.
Challenges we ran into
The biggest hurdle was balancing simplicity with depth—we wanted to avoid overwhelming users but still deliver meaningful insights. We also struggled with making tab navigation seamless on mobile, where horizontal scrolling needed to feel natural (not clunky) for non-technical users.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We built a platform that’s visually cohesive, easy to navigate, and addresses real homeowner pain points. The responsive design works flawlessly across devices, and the color scheme feels warm yet professional—no generic "tech" look.
What we learned
We learned that user-centric design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about anticipating frustration (e.g., hard-to-find rebate info) and solving it before users notice. We also mastered balancing fixed design rules (e.g., brand colors) with flexible layout needs for different screen sizes.
What's next for this project
We plan to expand the upgrade guides to include region-specific recommendations (e.g., cold-climate insulation tips), add a tool to estimate long-term savings from upgrades, and partner with local contractors to verify their credentials in real time.
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