New Bamboo And Edenbee Create Unique Social Networking Site To Reduce Carbon Footprints

…New Bamboo’s flexible approach enables rapid, cost efficient development of the technically complex web site…

Wednesday 20 February 2008, New Bamboo, the specialist in bespoke software development using Ruby on Rails, has partnered with Edenbee to create a unique social networking site that empowers users to reduce their carbon footprints and track their progress. Using a combination of Ruby on Rails and New Bamboo’s flexible approach, the Edenbee web site has been rapidly developed against evolving requirements and kept within budget. Edenbee www.edbenbee.com will launch in the UK on 3rd March 2008.

“New Bamboo had the experience of social networking, the highly technical skill set and the enthusiasm that we needed to make the project work,” said David Hayes, Co-Founder, Edenbee. “New Bamboo’s flexible approach meant that we could develop the site rapidly, which not only allowed us to cut costs – critical in the launch phase – but also meant that we are able to incorporate all the elements that we wanted into Edenbee.”

New Bamboo worked closely with specialist consultants Clearleft, who created the user experience and the web site’s look and feel.

The first web site of its kind, Edenbee utilises the social networking model to empower end users to reduce their carbon emissions. Via the web site, Edenbees calculate their carbon footprint and then collaborate with other Edenbees about practical ways to reduce their emissions. Goals are then set by individuals, or by Edenbee, who also track progress and can send email reminders to keep users on target.

A technically complex carbon calculator forms the heart of the web site, based on the AMEE* API, which is recognised as the gold standard of carbon calculators. AMEE is utilised by the British government for its Act on CO2 initiative. “Following our project brief, New Bamboo not only identified AMEE but also had the technical ability to develop an interface for it with the look and feel we wanted. This typifies their ‘can do’ approach; they really got the brief, know that only the best will do and are as passionate about the success of Edenbee as we are,” added Hayes.

Max Williams, Co-Founder of New Bamboo said, “Edenbee is a fantastic project to be involved with and plays to all of our strengths: it involves making a new concept viable, utilises social networking, and necessitates a very flexible approach to development. We’re really pleased to have been able to contribute to the Edenbee community, and to help deliver this functionally rich web site on time and within budget.”

David Hayes concluded, “New Bamboo has enabled us to launch Edenbee with all the elements that we envisaged at the outset of the project; they turned our great concepts into great software. We look forward to working with them as the web site evolves.”

Notes to editor

*AMEE: Avoiding Mass Extinction Engine, created by DGen: http://blog.co2.dgen.net/

About New Bamboo
New Bamboo is a specialist in bespoke software development using Ruby on Rails. Its range of experience covers social networks, complex e-commerce solutions and process management and collaboration tools for organisations.

New Bamboo offers a highly skilled technical team that has been programming with Ruby on Rails since its conception in 2004. The company uses an Agile methodology which is particularly suited for complex projects and is based around objective metrics, stakeholder involvement, feedback, and managed processes.

New Bamboo is privately held and based on London, United Kingdom.

What is Ruby on Rails?
It is an innovative framework architected for rapid development of web applications. Ruby on Rails is the framework and ‘Ruby’ is the programming language.

About Edenbee
Edenbee is a new web site bringing together individuals who want to do simple things to tackle climate change. It helps users – or subscribers – measure their carbon footprint and suggests simple actions that can be taken to reduce it. Edenbee keeps track of subscriber goals, enabling them to see the difference they’ve made. Users become part of the Edenbee commuity, the Edenbees – a hive of clever people with a desire to thread a little lighter on dear old mother rock. For more information, please go to: www.edenbee.com.

About Clearleft
Clearleft is a dedicated design and user experience consultancy from Brighton, England. Using their extensive knowledge of user behavior, they specialize in building engaging and easy to use interfaces for web sites and social applications. Clearleft are regulars on the conference circuit, as well as writing several best selling books. They also run dConstruct, one of the most popular design and development conferences in the UK. For more information, please see www.clearleft.com and www.dconstruct.org.