Updated README.md, added new banner.

README.md

@@ -1,46 +1,89 @@
-# Welcome to the Climate Cooperative
+<p align="center">
+    <img src="https://github.com/climate-cooperative/.github/blob/main/images/cc_readme_banner.png?raw=true">
+  </a>
+</p>
 
-The Climate Cooperative open source project  is more than just software; it's a movement! We believe in the power of collaboration to tackle the monumental challenge of climate change. No single person, organization, or country can solve this crisis alone—it demands a global community of diverse backgrounds, ideas, and talents.
+<p align="center">
+  Advancing carbon-neutral, sustainable energy solutions for homes.
+  <br>
+  <a href="#projects-and-applications"><strong>Explore Project & Applications »</strong></a>
+  <br>
+  <br>
+  <a href="https://github.com/climate-cooperative/.github/issues/new/">Report an Issue</a>
+  ·
+  <a href="https://github.com/climate-cooperative/.github/issues/new/">Submit an Idea</a>
+</p>
 
-We’re dedicated to advancing carbon-neutral, sustainable energy solutions for homes. Our mission is to foster the development of a collection of relevant data, technology solutions, tools, processes, hardware and software that will be open-source and available to any individual, company, organization, school or foundation who wishes to use these tools to further the goal of reducing carbon emissions or to explore learning, creativity, research or education relating to climate change. The Climate Cooperative is the platform to unite everyone—regardless of origin, belief, or experience—in making a significant, positive impact on our planet. 
+
+
+
+# **Welcome to the Climate Cooperative** [![](https://img.shields.io/badge/Discord-8A2BE2)](https://discord.com/channels/1234653337547440190)
+
+The Climate Cooperative open source project is more than just software - it's a movement! We believe in the power of collaboration to tackle the monumental challenge of climate change. No single person, organization, or country can solve this crisis alone. It demands a global community of diverse backgrounds, ideas, and talents.
+
+## Table of contents
+
+- [Mission](#mission)
+- [Community](#community)
+- [Projects & Applications](#projects-and-applications)
+- [Contribute](#contribute)
+- [Code of Conduct & Core Values](#code-of-conduct-and-core-values)
+- [Join the Movement](#join-the-movement)
+
+## **Mission**
+
+This project is dedicated to advancing carbon-neutral, sustainable energy solutions for homes. Residential energy use is estimated to account for [20% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the US](https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1922205117). Achieving a 45% reduction by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050, as outlined by the Paris Climate Agreement, requires immediate action to transition residential energy use to sustainable sources.
+
+We believe that the technology exists today for the residential sector to meet those benchmarks on time, but several obstacles stand in the way of that transition. We have identified 3 major obstacles that we believe must be addressed to achieve those goals in time:
+1. **Education** - Many are unaware of their home's impact on carbon emissions, and even those who are aware may not know the choices available to reduce that impact.
+2. **Affordability (The Green Premium)** - Upgrading to electric and energy efficient alternatives often costs significantly more than like-for-like replacements of old appliances, which discourages adoption of cleaner technologies.
+3. **Workforce** - Installation of newer appliances often requires special training and there currently are not enough trained installers to meet the demands of a worldwide residential energy transition over the next decade.
+
+Through the Climate Cooperative, we aim to unite brilliant and passionate individuals from varying domains and backgrounds to collaborate on solutions to these problems and more.
+
+Our mission is to foster the development of a collection of relevant data, technology solutions, tools, processes, hardware and software that will be open-source and available to any individual, company, organization, school or foundation who wishes to use these tools to further the goal of reducing carbon emissions or to explore learning, creativity, research or education relating to climate change. The Climate Cooperative is the platform to unite everyone—regardless of origin, belief, or experience—in making a significant, positive impact on our planet. 
 
 We firmly believe that the solutions to our shared future on this planet should also be shared and available to anyone or any group with the ingenuity, creativity and drive to improve them. Let’s succeed together.
 
 
-## **Our Community**
+## **Community**
 
-Though we are in the early stages of building the community, we envision it growing into a large, diverse group of individuals who are passionate about creating sustainable energy solutions. As a member of the Climate Cooperative, you have the unique opportunity to collaborate with other passionate and talented people to shape the future of energy efficiency. Together, let’s create a resource of rich, educational, and useful software tools that can be used and improved by anyone to reduce carbon emissions in residential homes.
+We're just beginning to build our community, but we envision it becoming a vibrant and diverse hub of individuals who are deeply committed to fighting climate change. As a member of the Climate Cooperative, you'll have the chance to work alongside other dedicated and skilled individuals to pioneer the future of clean energy.
 
-### **How You Can Contribute**
+**Join us on [Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1234653337547440190)** to connect, learn, and contribute.
 
-- **Contribute to the Code**: Help us develop innovative features or improve existing ones to make our tools more effective and user-friendly.
-- **Report an Issue**: Found a glitch? Let us know! Your feedback is crucial in helping us improve.
-- **Enhance Documentation**: Whether you're a developer or an end-user, your insights can make our documentation clearer and more comprehensive.
-- **Share Your Ideas**: Have a vision for new features or ways to improve our project? We're all ears.
-- **Join the Conversation**: Participate in discussions, share your experiences, and connect with like-minded individuals dedicated to our cause.
 
-### **Our Current Projects**
-- **[Home Energy Assessment Database & API](https://github.com/Zwell-Home/home-energy-assessment-database)**: The Residential Home Energy Database & API consolidates diverse data into a unified platform for accurately calculating home carbon footprints, considering factors like local energy grids, weather, and home attributes. A live proof-of-concept can be found here: **[Home Energy Audit](https://zwellhome.com/)**. The database and API aim to provide crucial data for energy savings tools, detailed analyses, and visualizations, empowering stakeholders to reduce residential energy consumption and promote sustainable solutions.
+## **Projects and Applications**
 
-### **Future Development Roadmap**
-- **Carbon Offset Marketplace:**  Providing a direct to consumer platform for purchasing carbon offsets by financing home energy reduction projects. Requirements would be standards and processes required for recipients of the offset funds in order to guarantee new, incremental carbon reductions with a high certainty. The marketplace would provide access to community sourced carbon offsets that have both social and environmental benefits, and in turn would provide financial incentive for homeowners, contractors, or developers to make environmentally beneficial retrofits in homes.
-- **Home Appliances & Mechanical Systems Database:** This module allows consumers to upload appliance information into a home profile simply by taking a picture, supported by a comprehensive database detailing appliance lifespan. It includes a recommendation system that suggests the best products based on remaining useful life, retrofit practicality, and cost-effective CO2 reduction, alongside features for managing home profiles.
-- **Home Energy Audit & Recommendations:** This software tool provides precise recommendations for products, detailing applicable incentives and tax rebates to encourage energy-efficient upgrades. It's designed to simplify the process of making homes more energy-efficient by providing tailored advice and financial benefits information.
-- **Home Energy Contractor Database:** The Home Energy Contractor Database offers a comprehensive platform for contractors, featuring profile pages, a search function, and an aggregation of reviews. Contractors can manage their profiles, showcasing pictures, logos, descriptions, hours, contact details, and licensing information, enhancing visibility and trust with potential customers.
+### **In Development**
 
-### **Leadership and Maintenance**
+- **[Home Energy Assessment Database & API](https://github.com/Zwell-Home/home-energy-assessment-database)**: A unified platform for accurately calculating home carbon footprints, considering factors like local energy grids, local climate, and home appliances and attributes. A live proof-of-concept application can be found here: **[Home Energy Audit](https://zwell.bubbleapps.io/)**. The database and API aim to provide crucial data for energy savings tools, detailed analyses, and visualizations, empowering stakeholders to reduce residential energy consumption and promote sustainable solutions.
 
-In the spirit of open source and community-driven development, we welcome contributors who wish to take on leadership roles. Whether you're reviewing pull requests, managing issues, or guiding newcomers, your efforts help us maintain the quality and integrity of our project. As our community grows, so will opportunities for you to become a maintainer or even join our core leadership team.
+- **[Home Energy Audit App](https://github.com/climate-cooperative/home-energy-calculator)**: A front end application of the database and API above. Allowing users to provide information about their entire home through a web questionairre and then leveraging the database to convert that into a detailed breakdown of their home energy consumption—highlighting the most impactful updates they can make to their home.
 
-### **Learning and Growth**
+- **[HVAC CO2 & Savings Calculator](https://github.com/climate-cooperative/hvac-savings-calculator)**: A fast, easy-to-use web app calculator that allows users to plug in basic details about their home and their heating and coolings systems and get immediate estimates of the carbon emissions of those systems, as well as recommendations for both reduced emissions and reduced energy costs.
 
-We believe in the continuous growth of our community members. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the world of sustainable energy solutions, Zwell offers resources to enhance your skills and knowledge. Stay tuned for webinars, workshops, and educational materials designed to empower you.
+- **[Water Heating CO2 & Cost Calculator](https://github.com/climate-cooperative/heat-pump-water-heater-savings-calculator)**: A fast, easy-to-use web app calculator that allows users to plug in basic details about their home and their water heating systems and get immediate estimates of the carbon emissions of their home’s water heating, as well as recommendations for both reduced emissions and reduced energy costs.
 
-## **Stay Connected**
+### **New Ideas and Project Proposals**
 
-We're just getting started, and your input is invaluable in shaping the future of Zwell Open Source. Connect with us through our forthcoming community platforms, such as forums, social media, and direct channels for communication. Your voice matters, and together, we can make a difference in the fight against climate change.
+> [!IMPORTANT]
+> Check out the [Ideas](https://github.com/orgs/climate-cooperative/discussions/categories/ideas) on our Discussions page to propose a new idea (or review the community's latest ideas and find a project that inspires you)!
 
-## **Code of Conduct & Core Values**
+The goal is to develop solutions to support the transition to net zero carbon emissions from home energy consumption. There may be—and almost certainly are—many more great ideas not yet proposed here. If you've got an idea for a software application that could make an impact on that goal, make a new post in [Ideas](https://github.com/orgs/climate-cooperative/discussions/categories/ideas) and let's get the community talking about it!
+
+## **Contribute**
+
+- **Contribute to the Code**: Help us develop innovative solutions or improve existing ones to make the project's tools more effective and user-friendly.
+- **Report an Issue**: Found a glitch? Let us know! Your feedback is vital in helping us improve.
+- **Enhance Documentation**: Whether you're a developer or an end-user, your insights can make our documentation clearer and more comprehensive.
+- **Share Ideas**: Have a vision for new collaborations, features, or ways to improve our project? Add it to the repository!
+- **Join the Conversation**: Participate in discussions, share your experiences, and connect with like-minded individuals dedicated to the transformation of residential home energy.
+
+> [!TIP]
+> Check out the projects listed below for specific ways to start contributing!
+
+## **Code of Conduct and Core Values**
 
 Our journey towards a sustainable future is paved with innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to our core values. Whether you’re contributing through coding, writing, designing, or simply spreading the word—we urge you to familiarize yourself with our Code of Conduct. This reflects our dedication to fostering an open, inclusive, and respectful community, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background or experience, can contribute to making a significant, positive impact on our planet.
 
@@ -53,9 +96,8 @@ Our journey towards a sustainable future is paved with innovation, collaboration
 - **Sustainability and Freedom:** Our efforts are geared towards creating sustainable solutions that endure over time, ensuring that our contributions remain valuable for future generations while upholding the principles of freedom and open access.
 - **Security and Trust:** Recognizing the importance of trust in our community, we prioritize the security and reliability of our work, striving to create a safe and supportive environment for all contributors.
 
-## **Join Us**
-
-Your contribution is a step towards a more sustainable future for all. By joining us, you become part of a global community united in the urgent mission to combat climate change. Together, we can create innovative solutions that not only address environmental challenges but also promote equity, inclusivity, and ethical responsibility.
+## **Join the Movement**
 
-Let's build a cleaner, greener world together. Welcome to The Climate Cooperative.
+Every contribution, large or small, drives us closer to a sustainable future. By joining the Climate Cooperative, you become part of a global mission to combat climate change through innovation, collaboration, and ethical responsibility.
 
+**Together, we can build a cleaner, greener world. Welcome to the Climate Cooperative.**