Two local East County developers teamed up at last week’s AT&T/SDG&E Mobile App Hackathon to create Cog-EN, an app that tracks and a learns a user’s lifestyle and energy consumption habits, then suggests ways in which the user may conserve energy. The team came in second place, taking home a $3,000 cash prize and kudos from California Public Utility Commissioner Catherine Sandoval, who judged all submissions.
Charles Marchesini, a native San Diegan and self-proclaimed “techie” from La Mesa, and Matthew Attou, a local software engineer from El Cajon, were part of the team who created the winning app. Aligning with the White House’s call-to-action to reduce national energy use, the Cog-EN app creates interactive experience for consumers trying to better manage their energy consumption.
More than 80 attendees camped out at SDG&E’s Energy Innovation Center during the hackathon, where San Diegans were challenged to build apps that facilitate energy conservation. During the 24-hour timeframe 10 mobile apps were designed.