Green App for Earth Day Saves Energy: Light Bulb Finder

Switching to energy-efficient light bulbs is one of the fastest and easiest ways to conserve energy and protect the environment this Earth Day. Developed by Eco Hatchery, the free Light Bulb Finder mobile app enables users to decide which energy-efficient bulbs are right for their own homes and budgets. The app shows how much energy can be saved by replacing one or multiple bulbs and what the total carbon footprint improvement will be.
Named “Best Overall App” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its Apps for the Environment Challenge, Light Bulb Finder is available as a free download on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android mobile devices.
Walking through the home or store aisle, app users get instant recommendations for energy-saving bulbs with the light quality and fit that mimics their traditional incandescent bulbs. For each recommendation, the app displays financial payback and environmental impact information, enabling users to make informed decisions. Bulbs can be purchased through the app or at local stores.
A typical household can save over $110 in annual energy bills by making the switch. That’s money most homeowners would happily keep in the bank or spend on other things.
Changing just one more bulb, like a kitchen spot or porch light, will have a positive impact. If every U.S. household replaces one bulb, it would prevent 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Energy-efficient bulbs may cost more up-front, but the overall cost of buying and powering them is significantly less in the long run, plus they do not have to be changed as frequently. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, or CFLs, last on average eight times longer than incandescent bulbs, and Light Emitting Diodes, LEDs, last 25 or more times longer.