Fletcher Kasmer's dashboard

Improvements and bug fixes:
- The sheer size of the profile section is sure to dissuade some users. The % complete indicator is useful, however it can be difficult to find the areas which are incomplete if you are breaking up the input into sessions. Adding a page which summarizes the incomplete fields would be useful, as would better indications of which fields haven't been filled in (make them a different color).
- The general feel and look of the site is good, that new distinctive Web 2.0 feel, but it isn't consistent. The white bubbles on the "My Hohm Center" do a good job of delineating sections and are pleasing to look at. Other pages however don't seem particularly refined. The usage page needs the most revision. The "chart" section is obviously a work in progress, the bubbles for energy, time period and comparison don't fit their content and are awkward looking. Finally the chart on this page uses a dual axis, which is a general no-no. Isn't there a better way to display this data?
- Over the long-term, any manual usage entry will permanently drive users away from the site, and I don't expect the site to gain any real following until automatic feeds are set up. Until then though, the manual entry isn't as efficient as it could be. I would rework the start and end date input so that the user indicates the year they're entering data, which once entered doesn't change for future entries unless the user changes it, and the month. If they want to enter a custom start and end date, they can, although I'm not sure why users would want to as I assume most people are entering information from their utility records, which are month to month. Even better would be a batch entry or input of an Excel file.
- As an aside, it seems like the site is trying to arrange partnerships with energy providers. How about using a model more like Mint, where users provide their login information for their financial sites and Mint signs into the accounts and imports the data via the website using some sort of predefined action map. This way you could be adding energy providers without having to negotiate with them.

Additional Features I'd like to see:
- I'd like to be able to compare my energy use with people in my community.
- I'd like to set goals or create an energy budget.
- I'd like to see if the Hohm community's energy use goes down over time - does more information mean better decisions?
- I'd like Hohm to take a few pages out of the book "Nudge" (I think you already are) to help people change their energy behavior.
- I'd like to see recommendations for local contractors and stores which provide energy efficiency services. Mint does this for financial services, it seems like Hohm could do it for efficiency services.
- I'd like to see Hohm partner with nonprofit, education and government organizations to increase its visibility and to draw from a significant intellectual base which is already tackling energy efficiency issues.
- I know Hohm is focused on home energy efficiency, but down the road, after the bugs are worked out and the home side of life is running, I'd like to see Hohm become a tool to account for all energy use - that means transportation, consumption and waste disposal as well. It doesn't seem like that far a stretch.
- On the same vein, not everyone is focused just on the $ bottom line (which seems to be Hohm's main focus). Some of us would like to see our carbon impact as well. It doesn't seem like it would be too much of a stretch to add carbon accounting.

Thanks, I hope the beta moves forward quickly (it seems like Microsoft isn't investing that heavily into this endeavor) and Hohm becomes a useful tool.