Energy efficiency takes his cell phone, part II

If an energy-efficiency-geek and your fridge breaks you, you think likely, "Yes! A chance to buy a new super energy-saving model."

But you're the exception. Most consumers keep price tag before the ENERGY STAR certification. Human nature being what it is, they choose the cheaper model, even if it more utility bills in the long term it will cost. Here is what they don't know. You can on the high efficiency model and perhaps numbers no more than they would a much better deal for the energy guzzler - if they take advantage of discounts their usefulness can offer.

Buyers are often not aware of these incentive programs. Sure the utility at a given time sent a message about the rebate, but that was long ago tossed and forgotten.

A Menlo Park, California company acknowledged this problem and found a way, the discount information literally in the Palm of the buyer, right, if it is required. It's a mobile app.

The EcoRebates app is a growing number of ways energy the cell used phone to manage promotion of consumers to their energy, which employed more efficiently. (See part of this series as a New York City company helps customers to manage their air conditioners remotely via mobile phone.)

Utility incentive programs are not easy to track. They are often the product of the complex conservation plans developed annually by utilities and then extensively State public utilities commissions. New incentives be added, and some last expired only to households, or utility energy efficiency meets objectives are. As rebates come, go and change.

EcoRebates tracks the changes nationwide and maintains a database by zip code. His program maps automatically qualified products (according to model) with incentives within a zip-code available. The company has partnerships with several large retail enterprise, such as best buy, Lowe's, Home Depot, Menards, H.H Gregg and Sears, as well as manufacturers such as whirlpool, Electrolux, Trane can.

So can the consumer in the store with the cell phone in hand, get on the right website, check the desired model and see what rebates or incentives available. The website shows how much the refrigerator (or other unit) after the discount costs will actually be. In some cases shop have installed mobile units with the app staff and can help buyers who do not have mobile phones. It is also possible to do shopping from home on a computer incentive.

Brett battles, CEO of EcoRebates, pointed out that changed the way consumers shop and are more liquid.

"The mobile shopping tools - such as our discount Finder - is crucial to the decisions, especially for 'as' how buy appliances and home improvement products. With mobile consumers instant access to real time savings opportunities on energy-efficient products, '' he said.

This type of app provides a clear consumer advantage: less pain in the wallet. And it's a good sales strategy for stores and manufacturers. But greater social benefits arise also - and the real reason, such incentives are available.

Our power can bring just as much to maximum efficiency utilities and central network operators. Those who produce and distribute the force is only half of the equation. Represents the energy user, the other half. How much energy we use, and more, before everything, if we use it profoundly influenced, how many power plants be built which in turn determines the electricity tariffs and environmental costs.

Policy realized a long time ago that flattery and doctrine of the energy user has no effect (other than to annoy us). Programs like this will save us energy while we are busy to save money. And this is done by using a gadget, this seems almost constantly have our ear - and eye - the mobile phone. Next week see III part 'Energy efficiency takes his cell phone' about what mobile phones via power can tell us.

ELISA Wood is a long-time energy writer, whose Werk will be shown on RealEnergyWriters.com.

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