Green App for Earth Day: Light Bulb Finder Mobile App Empowers Households to Save $120 Annually

March 14, 2011 - PRLog -- A new, innovative mobile app empowers households to switch easily to energy-efficient lighting at home, where on average 18% of electricity consumption goes to lighting. Light Bulb Finder is available as a free download on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android smartphones.

Changing the most used incandescent bulbs to energy-saving equivalents cuts the average household’s energy bill by $120 per year. If all American households were to make the switch, it would be the energy equivalent of eliminating over 45 coal power plants and the greenhouse gas equivalent of removing 26 million cars from the road.

Despite the savings, few Americans have made the switch. Finding energy-efficient bulbs with the right style and performance can be time-consuming and frustrating. Faced with confusing packaging and mismatched options, many consumers grab the first and cheapest bulbs they find and end up disappointed with the results.  

“Light Bulb Finder helps homeowners find energy-efficient bulbs with the light quality, appearance, and performance they expect. Users can calculate their home's potential savings and buy bulbs directly through the app or at local stores,” said Adam Borut, president of Eco Hatchery, the sustainability consulting firm that developed Light Bulb Finder.

Based on a few simple inputs about current fixtures and incandescent bulb styles, the app provides instant recommendations for energy-saving equivalents. For each recommendation, the app displays an image of the bulb, along with the cost, financial payback, and environmental benefit. The range of recommended bulbs includes both Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Based on payback and other key information, users select bulbs for replacement and create a customized shopping list for in-app or in-store purchases.

“Mobile technology is ideal for enabling homeowners to make smart lighting choices and take action. App users get instant recommendations as they walk through their homes and can access the shopping list anytime on the go,” Borut emphasized.

For Earth Day (April 22, 2011), organizations can help their employees and community save energy, money and the environment by adding the Light Bulb Finder app to their toolkit of resources.

Website, App Tour and Web banner: http://www.lightbulbfinder.net
Flyer: http://www.ecohatchery.com/files/pg66/Light_Bulb_Finder_O...
Demo Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r7byk9ZR1Q



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Eco Hatchery is a technology and sustainability consulting firm that "hatches" green homes through programs and tools that save energy, money and environment. For more information, please visit: www.ecohatchery.com and www.lightbulbfinder.net