DETROIT – Callida Energy, a software that helps more efficiently heat and cool buildings, won first prize Thursday and a check for $80,000 in the 2016 NextChallenge: Smart Cities technology challenge. RideHop, a company that more efficiently operate transportation systems, won second place and $20,000.

The challenge is a partnership among NextEnergy, Denso International America, DTE Energy and Wells Fargo.

“The NextChallenge finalists and their proposed solutions demonstrate the response to a demand for addressing challenges related to safety, mobility, emissions, accessibility, and congestion,” said Jean Redfield, president and CEO, NextEnergy. “Each of the finalists provided great presentations and truly made great cases for their solutions, but Callida Energy’s solution had a lasting impact on the judges. We look forward to working with them to demonstrate their solution in 2017.”

Callida Energy’s Occupant App software uses real-time data collected from occupants via a comfort survey to empower building operators to more efficiently heat and cool buildings based on occupants’ comfort and presence. Rather than running HVAC systems based on a predetermined occupancy schedule, the software gathers data to learn zone occupancy patterns and recommend more efficient zone operating schedules that turn-down heating/cooling when offices are unoccupied or lightly occupied. It also visualizes occupant comfort problems to facility managers in real-time and learns what occupants perceive to be actual comfort to improve temperature settings.

Based on prior results, Callida estimates the software will achieve 30+ percent HVAC energy savings annually – as well as costs and carbon emissions reductions – with no decrease in occupant comfort.

RideHop On-Demand for Fixed Routes reduces the total number of buses or shuttles needed by adapting the transportation system to respond to ridership demand in real time opposed to standard circling for rider coverage. Urban campuses, such as hospitals, universities or large companies often provide buses or shuttles on a fixed route to transport employees, guests and patrons to and from buildings and parking lots. During decreased demand, circling mostly-empty buses results in unnecessary engine hours, greenhouse gases and operational overhead. As a solution, RideHop On-Demand allows riders to indicate when they are waiting at a stop, drivers are automatically dispatched, and riders receive an ETA for their ride. Early projections indicate the solution could reduce fleet coverage by 29 percent, while reducing wait time for passengers during off-peak times.

Fifty-seven innovators submitted online concept proposals earlier this year which were reviewed and narrowed down to a group of semi-finalists based on the following objectives: validity of innovation, applicant qualifications, competitive advantage, and scalability. Twenty-three semi-finalists from innovators around the world submitted full proposals which were narrowed down to a group of 10 finalists from the United States who pitched their ideas live to a panel of judges – representatives from NextEnergy, DTE Energy, DENSO and Invest Detroit – who collaboratively determined the winners.

The 10 finalists included: Callida Energy, GoKid, Locational Emissions Estimation Methodology (LEEM), LumenCache, Movatic, Nextek Power Systems, ParkIT, RideHop, Solartonic, and SPLT.

NextEnergy and its partners plan to work closely with all 10 finalists, said Jim Saber, NextEnergy Vice President, Business & Technology Development.

“NextEnergy in addition to the money, we would work with them to move them through commercialization process,” Saber said. “But we’ll also work with all the finalists to support commercialization and growth. All 10 finalists have wonderful technology. It’s a shame we could provide funds to only two.”

Saber said the challenge’s goal, when it began in the first quarter of 2016, was to promote companies that have the right technology to impact a smart city. The definition would include connected, interactive and data intensive. He said NextEnergy and its partners were looking for applications in the mobility and smart sectors that could demonstrate solutions that would have meaningful impact on our environment once they are scaled up.

Over 220 submissions were made this year, he said, which was culled down to 57 opportunities to submit proposals. The review process got that number down to 28, which then submitted formal proposals. The final 10 pitched a panel of experts on Thursday – five from mobility and five from smart building technology. Once from each group was selected to win the cash prizes.   

In 2017, NextChallenge: Smart Cities will kick off once more. Saber said he hoped more companies would participate so more innovative energy technologies could get the funding they need to more into commercialization.

For more information about NextChallenge: Smart Cities, visit nextchallenge.org.