As a student, I noticed a huge gap between "saving money" and "understanding usage." We know AI queries use energy, and we know 20-minute showers use water—but how much do they actually cost in 2026 dollars?
I built CostOfLivin.org to turn abstract energy data into real-world receipts.
The Tech Stack:
I wanted the site to be blazing fast and privacy-first (no database, no tracking).
Framework: React + Vite (for that instant dev loop)
Styling: Tailwind CSS (minimalist, and like a "google" aesthetic)
Icons: Lucide React
Hosting: Netlify
The Challenges
One of the biggest hurdles wasn't the code—it was the SEO. I recently discovered Google was ignoring the site because of a "ghost" noindex tag.
What I learned: Even if your index.html is clean, platforms like Netlify that I'm using can inject X-Robots-Tag: noindex headers on preview branches or specific subdomains. I had to audit my HTTP headers to ensure the "production" version was actually indexable.
What’s Next?
I’m looking to add:
State-by-state utility rates (since NYSEG hikes are wild in my state right now).
Vampire power presets for common dorm/apartment setups.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the UI or any other "invisible" tech costs I should include!
Check it out here: https://costoflivin.org/
Top comments (0)