Reducing electricity usage through light motion sensors
ESG Metric: Scope 2 emissions
Ease of implementation: Medium
Payback period: Up to 1 year
Suitable for: Office, manufacturing and commercial building-based companies
Suggested functional lead: Office or Building manager
Summary
Lighting in offices and commercial spaces can be highly inefficient and energy intensive, leading to higher electricity bills and carbon footprint. Motion sensors for lighting are a great way to ensure lights are only on when necessary, reducing unnecessary electricity usage. It is crucial to ensure you pick the most appropriate motion sensor based on office or manufacturing plant habits, and to install them in high traffic areas. Post-installation, it is advised to assign the responsibility of monitoring and sharing the electricity consumption change and associated carbon reduction.
Background Information
Motions sensors are indoor motion detectors most commonly used for controlling lighting automatically. They are motion activated by someone walking by or into a room, primarily used in commercial buildings by automatically turning off lights when no human presence is detected. They are an affordable option and highly effective at reducing electricity usage in offices. The Carbon Trust state that they reduce 30% of electricity used, whilst the Environmental Protection Agency found they can reduce energy waste to 68%, saving 60% of electricity. Once installed, it is a low maintenance system and extremely reliable. For most effective use, positioning is crucial and a professional installer is highly recommended.
Implementation Steps
Get permission from office or building manager
If you do not own your building, request permission from the facility manager to install motion sensors in your office area. This can be of interest to the building owner as it can be a stepping stone towards sustainable building accreditation. It will also be of interest to the other organisations in the building as it will improve all of their Scope 1 emissions.
Identify which sensors would be most appropriate
There are a variety of different technologies for motion sensors. However, we suggest using a microwave sensor. These are sensors that detect motion entirely anonymously, which is crucial for security purposes. The recommended sensors are OREGON for manufacturing plants and FIREOPANEL for office spaces. More advanced motion sensors can also include LED bulbs and daylight detection to automatically dim the lighting when natural light increases.
Decide on locations
It is standard practice to identify optimal locations for these sensors based on your office or working habits. Collaborate with the facility manager to identify high traffic areas such as hallways, bathrooms and doorways. These areas will be most effective as they are frequently used for short period of time, thus, have a high risk of lights being on when no one is around.
Book a professional to install the sensors
Book a professional from your chosen motion sensor company to carry out the installation. The installation time depends on the number of motion sensors installed and can range from a day to 2 weeks. However, they can be installed out of office hours to avoid disruptions to staff. If you cannot install motion sensors in the whole facility or office area due to cost or other reasons, ensure motion sensors are fitted in high traffic areas to maximise electricity usage reduction.
Assign responsibility for monitoring the energy consumption
To track the electricity usage reduction and carbon saving, ensure you have up to date electricity meter readings and bills from the day before the installation. Assign the responsibility to monitor the changes in usage and cost to a member of staff and share the improvements.
Maintenance
Occasionally, dust and debris can gather on the detectors, decreasing their effectiveness at detecting motion. It is suggested to clean the sensors a few times a year with a microfibre cloth. The maintenance might be more frequent for manufacturing facilities and less frequent for offices away from main roads or cities.