Hands-free energy savings
Why motion sensor light switches may be better than smart lights
Smart bulbs, switches and plugs that you control wirelessly via a smartphone app, smart speaker and/or home hub have garnered a lot of media attention lately, and for good reason: they can be scheduled to turn on and off at predetermined times, saving on energy costs and be programmed to change colour temperature, depending on your mood or time of day.
But there’s an older option still around that can accomplish some of these goals without requiring the purchase of expensive smart bulbs, a home hub automation system and a strong Wi-fi signal. It’s the motion sensor light switch, which can be installed by an electrician or handy do-it-yourselfer to replace your simple toggle light switch to be able to control wall or ceiling light fixtures or a plugged-in lamp.
A motion sensor switch uses either an infrared or pyroelectric sensor, built into the switch, that detects body heat from living occupants or a radar-equipped sensor that employs sound waves to determine if someone is in the room. These technologies may be more practical and convenient than smart lighting options because they can: (a) automatically turn the lights on when you enter a room and off when you exit (called occupancy mode); or (b) require you to manually push a button to turn on the lights when needed but then turn off the lights automatically after you leave the room (called vacancy mode). Some motion sensor switches offer both programmable features, while others feature vacancy mode only. Depending on the model, you can schedule the lights to automatically turn off one minute, five minutes or longer after you vacate the room.
Doug Root, co-owner/president of Atlanta Light Bulbs in Tucker, Georgia, says motion sensor switches can reduce light usage by 35 to 45 per cent, yielding big savings on your electric bill, prolonging the lifespan of your light bulbs and reducing carbon dioxide emissions harmful to the planet.
“Say you have a chandelier that uses six 10-watt LED bulbs that’s on eight hours a day. At a cost of 10 cents per kilowatt hour, you’d spend $17.52 annually. But if you cut that usage by 35 per cent to 2.8 hours via a motion sensor switch, that chandelier use would only cost $6.13 a year to operate,” says Root.
Rachel Calemmo, lighting design principal at Southport, Connecticut-based Christian Rae Studio, LLC, says occupancy sensor switches are ideal for the garage, basement, attic, hallways and closets, “places where we spend a short amount of time but can forget to turn the lights off before we leave. Another ideal space is the laundry room — when entering and exiting, our hands may be full and it’s inconvenient to look for a switch. And I like to have them in powder rooms so that guests don’t have to look for a switch on the wall; it cleans up the look of the wall esthetically and can also control an exhaust fan if it’s powered by the same switch.”
Motion sensor switches aren’t recommended for every room, of course. Occupancy switches could become a nuisance in bedrooms and areas where you entertain guests because the lights could possibly turn on and off when you don’t want them to.
“In a living room, for example, if people sit and relax for a long period of time the lights could potentially turn off while you’re still in the room because motion isn’t detected,” says Igor Reoutt, co-owner of Sierra Integrated Systems, LLC, in Reno, Nevada. “You also wouldn’t want your kitchen lights to turn off suddenly if you’re standing still for a long time chopping food or using a hot stove.”
Each motion sensor switch can often cost between $20 and $50 (USD) and will likely take 20 minutes to install and program (if you hire an electrician to install, he or she may charge $65 (USD) an hour and up). But compare that to the cost of a single smart bulb; plus, a motion sensor switch works with your existing non-smart light bulbs and can control several bulbs powered by that switch.
“With motion sensor switches, you don’t need a hub, app or a Wi-fi signal,” Root adds. “And you don’t have to worry about bad actors hacking into your smart lights, which has been a security concern among homeowners. All you need is electrical power.”