NeoEco: Sustainability Lifestyle Game

NeoEco makes sustainability fun by turning eco-friendly actions into quests. Earn XP, climb leaderboards, and level up while adopting greener habits that benefit both you and the planet.

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Inspiration

NeoEco was born from a spark: sustainability feels heavy, but behavior change sticks when it’s playful. The SyncsHack2025 project wanted to flip that — make everyday green choices feel like quests in a game. Inject a bit of magic into a bus ride or volunteering effort. That’s where NeoEco took shape.

What it does

NeoEco transforms real-world eco-actions into game mechanics: users get XP for sustainable quests—walking, biking, public transport, volunteering. They level up, get ranked (think Bronze → Gold), and climb leaderboards among friends and beyond. It blends real-life impact with friends-fueled competition. GitHub

How we built it

  • Backend: Django with Django REST Framework.
  • Database: Django's default ORM and database configurations.
  • APIs: *Groq API: Used for making smart decisions on transport modes.
    • TomTom API: Provides traffic and routing information.
    • Weatherbit API: Supplies real-time weather data.
    • Photon (Komoot) API: For converting addresses to geographical coordinates (lat/long).
    • Volunteer Connector API: Powers the search for local volunteer opportunities.
  • Frontend: Vite.js Framework, HTML, CSS

Challenges we ran into

Juggling real-time data from multiple APIs can feel like spinning plates — latency, inconsistent formats, error handling under pressure. Also, crafting a fair yet fun XP and quest_id system that avoids overlaps and race conditions tested our logic muscles.

Accomplishments that we’re proud of

We created a real-live gamified eco app in hackathon time! The quest flow—from map data to weather to AI-powered suggestions—actually worked. Users can authenticate, pick transport wisely, level up, and see their rank grow. Not bad for 48 hours of caffeine and code.

What we learned

Mashups are magical, but complexity grows fast. The more APIs, the more error fences you need. Async requests and clean model logic kept us sane. And transforming abstract eco-behavior into game mechanics? Harder than it looks—but hugely rewarding.

What’s next for NeoEco: Sustainability Lifestyle Game

The foundation stands. Next, we’d polish the XP system, add quests beyond transport (energy use, waste reduction), deep dive into social groups and team challenges, maybe even quests tied to real-world rewards. The aim? Make NeoEco the daily companion that nudges everyone toward greener habits—one quest at a time.

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