Consider adding sensors to your home CFL/LED lighting already installed.
November 9, 2009

You likely already know CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) and LED (light emitting diodes) fixtures conserve electricity. CFLs are four times more efficient and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, while LEDs use less than 10 watts of electricity and have even longer lifespans.

A recent article published in Electronic House (EH) by Lisa Montgomery points to technology for "occupancy sensors" and products available today which allow you to further control when certain lighting is turned on/off.

Last year's blog included an article (click here) that quantified the $$ savings available by dimming incandescent lighting. Indeed if you have certain lights in use on a daily basis for over an hour, it's possible to save over a $1000 year or more by dimming each light to just 80% brightness. Those who read our article may have thought an equal savings was possible simply by replacing the incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs. Maybe so if the CFL bulb wattage matched the lighting brightness requirement for the more heavily used lights in your home, as most CFL bulbs are not dimmable.

However, even with the cost effective CFL or LED lights additional savings are possible by installing a variety of different occupancy sensors and timers to ensure the lights run only when they’re absolutely necessary. For example by using Watt Stopper products from Legrand, the devices help cut energy use in the National Homebuilder Mainstream GreenHome in Raleigh NC by 50 percent. Also contributing to this reduction are motorized Sivoia QED shades from Lutron Electronics, a green ventilation system from Panasonic and a PowerCost energy monitoring device from Blue Line Innovation.

Per the above EH article, "The big energy-savings stars are the Watt Stopper RS-250 vacancy sensors, installed in key areas like the living room, bedrooms, family room, kitchen and hallways. The sensor installs in place of a traditional switch, but combines a detector that monitors for activity in the room. Users turn on the light by tapping the switch; when the sensor detects no movement in the space, it automatically turns off the lights. These are known as vacancy sensors “manual-on” vacancy detectors, says Jennifer Hahn, product line manager. The room doesn’t go dark instantly, though. The sensor can be set to wait anywhere between five and 30 minutes before switching off the lights.

“Automatic-on” occupancy sensors, meanwhile, were installed in closets, a rear-entry area and several staircases. In addition to turning a light off when a space is unoccupied, these sensors are designed to turn the light on automatically whenever somebody enters. To prevent unnecessary and wasteful lighting, an integral light sensor was enabled on several auto-on devices so lights do not turn on when there is sufficient ambient light".

Note the above refinement to your exisiting CFL/LED lighting can also be achieved by a number of whole-house automation systems which can control more than just lighting, by adding climate, entertainment, or security control actions when occupancy or vacancy is detected. For a list of whole-house automation companies click here.

To get a more complete view of what's possible for a "green home" view this article on the Electronic House 2008 Home of the Year click here.