EcoTrack wins Rep. Debbie Dingell’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Michigan’s Sixth District

When asked what inspired the creation of EcoTrack, the students said, “The need to develop EcoTrack was fueled by an understanding of the importance that individual activities, even if they are small, play in contributing to climate change. It has become increasingly clear to me that while the average person might be concerned about global warming because it is something that is far away and out of control, it is in our best interests to recognize that our daily activities directly impact the earth. These activities might include driving to school, turning on lights, eating food, and more. The hitch is the fact that most individual citizens fail to recognize the connection between their day-to-day activities and their effects on the earth, leaving them feeling less connected to the situation.

“As somebody living in the vicinity of the Great Lakes, I’ve seen firsthand the damage that can be done to our environment because of pollution, plastics, and the changing climate. The Great Lakes support 34 million people, so it was personally affecting to see them in harm’s way. I knew if we could somehow provide real information to people on the impact of the way they’re living, it might spark real change. That was the premise under which EcoTrack was created. It allows users to see in real time what they’re contributing on a day-to-day basis and provides them with the tools to make educated choices about themselves.

“Another aspect I wanted to integrate with the application was to go beyond data collection and management. At EcoTrack, there is encouragement to learn, compete, and participate because change begins with engagement. For instance, the ‘Challenges’ and ‘Trivia’ sections allow users to enjoy sustainability through the interactive aspect because there is so much to learn to be green, yet it is not boring with the application. The “Local” page allows users to participate in events that actually help the planet because I was brought up in an environment of community service.

“The idea of accessibility was the driving force behind the inception of EcoTrack’s AI partner, EcoBot. Not everyone has access to the information or knowledge to learn about sustainability, so with EcoBot, they can receive direct and instantaneous advice based on their needs and levels. In any case, the final purpose behind EcoTrack is to empower individuals.”