The City of Hesperia is making it easy for residents to save energy and money with a free smartphone app called Light Bulb Finder. At home or on the go, residents can get instant recommendations for energy-efficient light bulbs with the right light quality, fit and performance.

Named "Best Overall App" by the EPA in its App for the Environment Challenge, Light Bulb Finder is available as a free download on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android smartphones and tablets.

Based on simple inputs, the app provides financial payback and environmental impact for each bulb recommendation, enabling users to make fast, informed decisions. Hesperia customers also can use the app to link directly to the City of Hesperia website or an online bulb store with special offers on lighting and other efficiency resources offered through the utility.

Switching to energy-efficient light bulbs is one of the simplest and fastest ways to conserve energy and protect the environment. Lighting accounts for over 14 percent of the average home’s electricity bill, so the savings potential is significant. A typical City of Hesperia household can save over $140 in annual energy bills.

It used to be that choosing a light bulb was simple, but technical advances, federal efficiency standards and a flood of new products have triggered the biggest evolution in the lighting industry since Edison was around. Consumers have more choices than ever.

As choice has increased, so has consumer confusion. Choosing the right bulb no longer is about wattage and shape. Consumers need to consider the type of fixture, the lumen output (a measure of brightness), the color temperature (warm vs. cool light), not to mention the price of the bulb and electricity cost over time. The Light Bulb Finder app cuts through the confusion and identifies the right bulbs for the right fixtures.

To download the free app, visit the app store on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Android device and search for "Light Bulb Finder", or go directly to www.lightbulbfinder.net.