It is well-documented that residents can save money by turning off lights in their home when they aren’t using them. According to one analysis, this could even save them about £84 a year for each light.
So, it seems logical to conclude that lights that turn off by themselves, without the need for human intervention, would also save money. Sure enough, the use of motion sensors in commercial buildings can apparently lower energy usage by as much as 30 per cent.
Lights that only turn on when you need them on
It’s easy to understand why motion sensor lights could help you to save money. These lights incorporate a sensor that detects movement. That means, whether you install motion sensor lights for security purposes, or even to make it easier for visitors to get around your property, they will only switch on when you require them to be on.
Motion sensor lights typically then switch off when they haven’t detected movement for a while, which further helps to save energy and money. In the case of our TC390 Ultra Bright Spotlights, that auto shutoff time is 20 seconds, while for the TC592 UltraBright Path Light, it is 30 seconds.
What else makes these lights so economical?
While motion sensored lights are especially strongly associated with commercial sites, they offer similar money-saving benefits in residential settings.
Another important aspect of many motion sensor lights in the That’s Clever online store is that they can be quickly and easily installed in almost any location, such as on walls, trees, fences or even drainpipes. This helps to ensure they are targeted at the areas of your property that you actually need to be illuminated, thereby ensuring minimal light is wasted.
But doesn’t switching lights on and off decrease their lifespan?
One question often asked is whether motion sensored lights being switched on and off repeatedly would shorten their lifespan.
There is some truth to this perception as far as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are concerned. Even with these lights, however, it is not the total number of times they are turned on and off that could affect their lifespan, but instead the process of rapidly switching them on and off.
The latter isn’t likely to be a worry with motion sensored lights, given that – as we have already covered – they typically incorporate a timer that keeps them on for some time after movement is no longer detected.
In any case, the That’s Clever store includes a wide range of motion sensored lights using light emitting diodes (LEDs), which do not reduce in lifespan if they are turned repeatedly on and off. They also become fully bright the moment they are switched on, unlike CFLs, which do take some time to achieve maximum brightness.
With lighting accounting for about 20% of electricity generated in the UK, choosing the most energy-efficient motion sensored lights will give you convenient, cost-effective and long-lasting outdoor illumination. We stock battery-powered lights that will not require new batteries for about six to 12 months, making them an ideal solution.