AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CLEAResult, a leader in designing and implementing technology-enabled energy efficiency programs for utilities, and the Energy Department's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) today announced Charles Xie as the winner of the JUMP Smartphone Call for Innovation.
The JUMP innovation challenge provided an opportunity for innovators to present ideas for new energy-efficient residential building technologies that leverage the open, programmable, and sensor-rich platform that modern smartphones offer. Concepts were initially evaluated by a team of judges earlier this year, with an additional public voting period on the JUMP website. Finalists then presented their innovations to more than 100 utility executives at the CLEAResult Energy Forum in Austin, Texas, with the grand prize winner announced during the event.
Charles Xie was awarded a $3,000 cash prize and in-kind support from CLEAResult to bring his Infrared Street View program to life. Xie's innovation combines existing infrared camera attachments for smartphones as well as crowdsourcing through school programs to create thermal maps of neighborhoods. The thermal images and corresponding temperature data points can be used to uncover anomalies such as urban heat islands. This source of data can help assess the state of residential energy efficiency and identify potential upgrades.
“All of the submissions we received were truly inspiring, and I commend everyone who took part in the JUMP challenge,” said Emily Kemper, senior technical energy manager and architect at CLEAResult. “By partnering with NREL on this initiative, we’re able to help nurture the next generation of innovators who will create new solutions that will usher us into a more energy-efficient future, which is something we’re deeply committed to.”
The competition was part of JUMP, which was launched by DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) last year and is co-hosted by NREL, ORNL and three other DOE national laboratories. JUMP is an online crowdsourcing platform that fosters the entrepreneurial spirit of innovators who want to create new energy-efficiency solutions. NREL partnered with CLEAResult on the Smartphone Call for Innovation, which used crowdsourcing to uncover innovative new ideas to save energy in homes.
About CLEAResult
CLEAResult is the largest provider of energy efficiency programs and services in North America. Through proven strategies tailored to clients’ unique needs and market dynamics, the combined strength of experienced energy experts and technology-enabled service offerings help CLEAResult change the way people use energy for hundreds of utility and business partners. Founded in 2003, CLEAResult is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and has close to 3,000 employees in more than 70 cities across the U.S. and Canada. CLEAResult is a portfolio company of General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm. For more information, visit clearesult.com.
