Smartphone App Shines Light on New Bulb Choices in New Year

Dec. 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Starting January 2013, conventional 75-watt incandescent light bulbs will be phased out in favor of energy-efficient bulbs that use at least 27 percent less energy, as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). For smartphone and tablet users, the free Light Bulb Finder mobile app is a useful tool for sorting quickly through all the choices and identifying energy-saving bulbs with equivalent light quality, fit and appearance.

Available for download via iTunes, Google Play and the Amazon App Store, the Light Bulb Finder app enables consumers to create shopping lists of recommended energy-saving bulbs directly on their smartphones for easy reference in stores, or they can buy bulbs directly through the app. For each recommendation, the app displays an image of the bulb, the estimated price, financial payback, energy savings, and environmental impact so that users can make informed decisions.

The Light Bulb Finder app has been consistently recognized as one of the top efficiency and sustainability apps available. It was awarded “Best Overall App” in the EPA’s Apps for the Environment Challenge and a winner of AT&T’s Power Your Future competition.

Many utility companies offer bulb discounts through the app to incentivize consumers to save energy through lighting which accounts for about 14% of home electricity consumption. Despite the significant savings potential, 3 billion of the estimated 4 billion light bulb sockets in U.S. households still use standard incandescents, rather than energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and lighting emitting diodes (LEDs).

If all U.S. households switched from incandescent to energy-saving light bulbs, 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.

Light Bulb Finder app users already have switched over 107,000 incandescent bulbs, saving $1.3 million annual energy bills. The resulting elimination of greenhouse gas emissions through reduced electricity consumption is equivalent to taking 1,200 cars off the road.

To download the free app, visit the app store and search for “Light Bulb Finder.”

A free string of LED holiday lights is now being offered on minimum orders of $50 via the app in many regions.

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The developer of the Light Bulb Finder app, Eco Hatchery, is a technology and services firm specializing in energy efficiency software and mobile applications. For more information on the Light Bulb Finder app and mobile marketing and education programs, please visit http://www.ecohatchery.com and http://www.lightbulbfinder.net. Connect with Light Bulb Finder on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/LightBulbFinder