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A new way to manage the energy consumption of a room is through occupancy sensors. Detecting the presence or absence of people in a room, occupancy sensors have the ability to adjust lighting and/or heating and cooling accordingly. When properly used, they can save up to 80% of energy consumed through lighting and temperature controls.

There are three basic types of occupancy sensors. The infared detector identifies body heat. Requiring a straight line of sight, they are best used in simply shaped rooms, such as offices, classrooms, etc. The second type of sensor is ultrasonic technology. When small motions must be detected, ultasonic sensoring works best. Emmitting high-frequency sounds, reflecting off the room’s surface, ultrasonic sensoring is able to opperate in oddly shaped rooms. However because it is able to pick up on the smallest movements, it can be sensitive to ventilation systems, motion from surrounding spaces, etc. Lastely is the acoustic sensor, depending on the sound of voices, machienery, audible motion, etc.

Though occupancy sensors are typically used to control lighting, sensors used for heating and cooling are becoming more well-known. One company producing occupancy sensors for both lighting and heating/cooling systems is Telkonet SmartEnergy. To maximize efficiency, Telkonet SmartEnergy determines energy consumption through a rooms location relative to the rest of the building, window placement and direction, window coverings, climate and varying conditions throughout the day, and the condition of the current heating and cooling system. Through their occupancy sensors, Telkonet SmartEnergy ensures comfort and energy savings for every costomer.

Visit http://smgreen.org/Content/controlsys/sensorcontrols.html for more information on Occupancy Sensors, and http://www.telkonet.com for more information on Telkonet SmartEnergy systems.