Motion-sensing switch takes over when kids forget to turn off the lights

Posted on November 28th, 2007 in Parenting

We are huge fans of the motion-sensing light switch in our house! From Ellen:

My kids seem unable to remember to turn off the bathroom light. We use compact fluorescent bulbs, so the power usage is trivial, but it’s a pet peeve of mine. Instead of turning off the light every time I walk past, my husband had a better idea– installing a motion-sensing light switch. Now when you walk into the bathroom, the light turns on automatically, and then it turns off shortly after you leave. It works so well we’ve installed another in mudroom (wonderful when I come in holding the baby and 3 bags of groceries), and the upstairs bathroom. The length of time the light stays on is adjustable, and the light can be switched "on", or "off", in addition to the automatic mode. A funny side effect is that I’ve caught myself expecting the light to turn on automatically as I enter other rooms, and even in other people’s houses.

A motion-sensing light transformed our basement pantry from a scary cave we used to refer to as the "Blair Witch room" into a place my children are willing to enter. Light switches on timers are handy, too. We use one for our stairway light: one button-push turns the light on for 3 minutes — long enough for us to get up the stairs, then the light turns off automatically.

Anyone else care to share the motion-sensing lightswitch love?

Related: Turn off the lights or pay up