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As if by magic, when you approach your house, lights go on. Then, once you are inside, living room sconces gradually brighten to a warm glow, and lights continue to turn on as you walk through the house.
Infrared or ultrasonic sensors turn lights off or on automatically, depending upon whether or not they sense the presence of someone in the room. These are made by several companies—Leviton, LightAlert!, and LVS, to name a few. Infrared types pick up minute changes in the infrared background of a room when a human is present. Ultrasonic types are activated by inaudible sound waves that sense motion.
Wall-mount occupancy sensors replace a standard single-pole switch, and they don't require special wiring. Ceiling- mount models, which can control the lighting in a large room, are generally installed when a house is being built because most of them have wires that run from the sensor to a switch.
