For many years, interior lighting design has existed within the confines of the light switch. The nature of the traditional light switch has created a bad habit in societies of leaving the lights on. Companies found that a large part of their operating costs was contributed to lighting their buildings. The solution to this problem was the introduction of automated lighting controls, and the most notable component of them all would be the presence sensor switch. A presence sensor replaces or complements a traditional light switch to turn lights on when an occupant is detected in a room and automatically turn off lights when no one is detected in the room for a designated period of time. First introduced for commercial buildings, occupancy sensor controls are now being developed for residential applications and provide commensurate benefits at an affordable price. Three benefits of employing these controls in your home include; convenience, energy efficiency and versatility.
convenience
There are many cases in our daily life where we worry about pressing a light switch to illuminate a hallway or a room that we are entering. For example, entering a room where the light switch is far away and difficult to find in the dark. Another would be walking into a room where we often have our hands full, such as a laundry room or a walk-in storage closet. Installing a presence sensor switch is an easy solution to eliminate the hassle of dropping what is charging and pressing the light switch. Also, when you go out, don’t worry about leaving the lights on because they will automatically turn off when you are no longer in the room.
Energy efficiency
Perhaps the only reason to develop the occupancy sensor is to create a more energy efficient lighting system and inherently contribute to the energy efficiency of the entire building. The concept is clear; they make it impossible to leave the lights on when a space is not occupied. This is exactly what an occupancy sensor switch does. Reducing energy consumption is not only good for the planet, it is also good for your monthly budget. Residential wall switch occupancy sensors can cost less than $ 20 and provide lifetime savings on your energy bill by reducing unnecessary consumption.
Versatility
Versatility is an often overlooked advantage of occupancy sensors. The main reason for their use is to control lighting, but they are also capable of controlling other equipment and appliances in your home that operate on an outlet controlled by a light switch. Creative thinking can lead to unconventional additional uses for your occupancy sensor and save you more money on your utility bills. To start thinking about uses, look around a room in your home and consider what’s plugged in but never used when you’re not in the room. Some examples might include a fan or space heater, or possibly a coffee maker or toaster. While it is not much, some of these appliances consume energy even when not in use. Controlling these household items with an automatic light switch is a perfect solution to reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
These three advantages of occupancy sensor controls can enhance your home in many ways. The convenient and luxurious nature of this automated lighting component is enough to justify its use. However, some building codes are beginning to require the use of presence sensors in many cases; for example, Title 24 regulations for energy efficient homes in California.