Watt Stopper/Legrand has created the first family of vacancy and occupancy sensors designed for the home. The new Watt Stopper sensors give homeowners a simple way to save energy by automatically turning lights off in empty rooms, thus making ordinary home lighting more green and eco-friendly.
The sensors replace wall switches in bathrooms, bedrooms, hallways and other rooms. With vacancy sensors, users press the button to turn lights on; with occupancy sensors lights turn on automatically when someone enters the room. Then, after the room is vacant, lights automatically turn off, ending the typical pattern of hours of wasted energy. Homeowners will no longer need to run around the house turning lights off.
The product line offers options custom-created to accommodate the unique needs of homes:
• nightlight so users won’t need to turn on bathroom lights during the night
• dual switching with one sensor for control of two loads (such as bathroom lights and exhaust fan)
• light level sensing for added savings in areas with daylight
• back-lit switch for easy location in the dark
• multi-way control for multiple switch locations in hallways
Not overlooking an essential element to homeowners, Watt Stopper/Legrand put careful thought and design into the appearance of the sensors, making them extremely slim and low profile. In fact, they are so flat that they protrude less than 3/16” from the plate – less than a decorator paddle switch. Also, they feature a lens color that matches the rest of the device giving a clean, streamlined appearance. The end result is that homeowners will not only achieve energy savings, but will enjoy the convenience and style that Watt Stopper sensors add to their homes.
Because of their energy saving potential, the sensors comply with energy codes such as California’s Title 24-2005. Title 24 mandates that lighting in homes be high efficacy or be controlled by a vacancy sensor or a dimmer. There is also a strong environmental impact: for every switch that is replaced by a vacancy sensor, CO2 emitted into the environment is reduced. If 100 million US households were to control one 60W bulb with one vacancy sensor, this would represent almost a half billion Kwh in energy savings and a reduction of almost one billion pounds of CO2.
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