True Cost

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EcoVision

Inspiration

Everyday choices look cheap or convenient, but their real cost is hidden. I was inspired by how often we overpay—not just in money, but in time, health, and environmental impact—without realizing it. Existing eco apps focus on guilt; I wanted a tool that helps people first, with sustainability as a natural outcome.

What I Learned

I learned how to turn abstract ideas (like CO₂ and sustainability) into clear, actionable decisions. Technically, I improved my skills in AI integration, mobile-first UX, state management, and performance optimization, and learned how much good design matters for real behavior change.

How I Built It

EcoVision is built using Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and Zustand. I used Google Gemini 1.5 Flash to analyze products from camera input and return structured data. All calculations and comparisons run on-device, and data is stored locally for privacy. Shareable impact cards are generated client-side using HTML-to-canvas rendering.

Challenges Faced

The biggest challenges were getting reliable AI outputs, designing a smooth mobile experience, and balancing accuracy with simplicity. Handling camera input, JSON-only AI responses, and performance on low-end devices required multiple iterations and careful optimization.