Can Your School Benefit from Motion Sensor Light Switches?

As a school administrator in Waco, TX, you’re constantly searching for new ways to cut overhead costs on campus. Have you considered adding or upgrading a lighting control solution to include motion sensor light switches?

Continuously burning lights hemorrhage a significant amount of energy, which translates to higher utility bills every month. You can shave off avoidable expenditures by installing lights that only operate when motion is detected in the room or area.  

As summer break approaches, now is the time to consider a district-wide installation of motion-activated lighting while schools sit empty. The upfront costs will pay for themselves with electricity and cost savings throughout the new school year. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of motion sensor-activated lighting.

SEE ALSO: Beyond People Counting: Additional Benefits of Occupancy Sensors

Where Are the Best Locations for Motion Sensor Lights?

The most effective locations for sensor-activated lights are areas with low to medium traffic flow, areas with irregular traffic flow, and rooms where lights are frequently turned on and forgotten. In your school, the best locations include:

• Bathrooms
• Teacher lounges
• Supply closets
• Meeting rooms
• Individual offices
• Basements
• Enclosed stairwells
• Utility closets
• Gymnasiums
• Cafeterias
• Auditoriums
• Hallways

Motion-activated lights are also a fantastic solution for exterior lighting overlooking building doors, parking lots, and outdoor courtyards and pavilions.

Cost and Energy Savings

How often do teachers and staff members get supplies out of a supply closet and leave without turning off the light? Are hallway lights left burning from the time school ends to when the janitorial staff arrives in the evening? Do bathroom lights need to remain on all day?

Your school wastes a significant amount of electricity by leaving lights on when they’re not needed. According to a study entitled “Demand Reduction and Energy Savings Using Occupancy Sensors” published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), occupancy sensors can reduce energy waste by as much as 68% and increase energy savings by as much as 60%.

In sum — motion sensor light switches that operate based on a room or area’s occupancy can shave costs off your utility bills and reduce your school’s carbon footprint. And with reduced usage, your campuses can also increase the life of lighting fixtures, further helping to reduce costs.

Safety and Security Benefits

Motion-activated lights can also increase security in and around your school. Teachers and employees leaving late shouldn’t walk through dark hallways, stairwells, and parking lots to reach their cars. Instead, motion-activated lights can illuminate a safe pathway and turn off behind them.  

Additionally, motion sensor light switches that turn on when a teacher or staff member enters a supply closet, lounge or meeting room can prevent falls and other accidents. Hazards can occur from someone fumbling around a room for a light switch or trying to turn on/off lights while carrying heavy objects.

If you’re ready to add more energy and cost-efficient lighting control to your school campus, give ASAP Security Services a call. We have wide-ranging experience installing smart, efficient, and automated technology solutions in schools and commercial organizations in Waco and across Texas. Call 877-418-ASAP or fill out a contact form to get started.