Outdoor home lighting provides a number of great benefits - convenience, security, and beauty to name a few. But when choosing outdoor home lighting, there are a number of reasons to choose motion sensor lights over standard, non-motion lighting. This article will highlight some of the top reasons you should choose motion lighting for your outdoor home lighting needs.

• Save money and only use the lights when you actually need them - when motion is detected. Whether coming home after dark, looking for your keys outside a front or side door, or taking your pet out at night, motion lighting will automatically provide light once you move in the motion detector range. You'll save money as a result and get the automatic lighting convenience.

In our Product Categories menu on the left side of our site, listing the various categories of Motion Sensor Light products, you will find a new Category:  All Energy Star Products

We have added each Energy Star rated product from all categories of the site to the "All Energy Star Products".  By clicking this new category, you will be able to browse all motion lights featured on our site from our Lighting Stores that have this rating.

What is Energy Star?

The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency created Energy Star labeling and standards program in 1992 to help protect the environment and save money through energy efficient practices.  Throughout the history of this program, ENERGY STAR has delivered energy and cost savings across the country, saving businesses, organizations, and consumers substantial cost savings.

ENERGY STAR rated products meet guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA that require strict energy efficiency.

Visit the official Energy Star web page for more information about this program.

Dusk to Dawn Feature

Many times we are asked about the meaning of the "Dusk to Dawn" feature of motion lights.  This is a very nice feature that you will find on most motion sensor lights, so understanding this will help you make the best choice when choosing the light that is right for you. In short, the dusk-to-dawn feature of a light will cause your motion light to only activate when it is dark.  In daylight hours when existing and ambient light is present, the light will not activiate when motion is detected.  This feature uses a small photocell like the one pictured above to detect the presence of available and existing light.  If light is detected, the motion light will not trigger.  If light is not detected, then the light will turn on when motion is detected.

Motion detectors sense moving objects by picking up the heat that radiates from the object.  The motion light will automatically turn on when the motion detector senses an object moving within its detection range -- the sensor will work especially well when warm objects move within the detection area, such as animals, people and cars.

Once motion is detected and the light turns on, the light will remain on for a set period of time.  Most outdoor motion lights will allow you to set the amount of time that the light will remain on, typically anywhere from 1 minute to 25 minutes.  Then, if the detector no longer senses movement after the set time, the light will automatically turn off.  In addition, most outdoor motion lights include a photocell that will deactivate the light during daylight.  As a result, the light will only turn on when motion is detected during darkness.

 

You will see many motion detector lights with a feature called "Dual Brite" or "Dual Brite Timer". What is the Dual Brite feature? It is a very convenient and valuable feature that adds a new level of function to a motion light. Below, I'll describe how the Dual Brite feature works.

The Dual Brite feature adds another set of light control settings to a motion light.  When the Dual Brite setting is on, the light will automatically turn on in a half-bright mode for a set period of time after dusk.  So when it gets dark, the light automatically switches on in dim mode, providing you with convenient lighting during times when it gets dark early in the evening, and the security of automatic dusk lighting.  The Dual Brite setting does not interfere with normal motion light settings--if the motion detector picks up motion, the light will switch on in full power mode, even if the light is already on in dim mode from the Dual Brite setting.

 

With the current state of the economy, there is more concern than ever that burglaries and other household crime will continue to increase.  As a result, it is crucial now more than ever to increase security at and around your home.  While many home security systems and strategies will cost you thousands of dollars of upfront and ongoing cost, there are other supplemental and effective steps you can take now to increase your home security.  One effective measure that is relatively simple, quick and inexpensive to add to your home is to install motion activated lighting to your home and yard.

One of the main reasons that people install motion lighting is to deter the plans of would-be burglars and add safety to their home and home environment.  Other benefits and features of motion lighting include beauty, convenience and energy savings.

 

Based on our experiences with outdoor motion detector lights, this article will list the top 5 benefits that we have found. These are not the only benefits -- in fact, while reading this article, you will likely think of other benefits from outdoor motion lights. If you do, share them! Let us know how you have benefited from motion sensor lights!

• Security - this one is easy. Motion lights come on when motion is detected. With properly placed and set motion lights, intruders will be met with lights turning on in their face as they approach your house. Something to note: set your light sensitivity correctly. From experience, when your motion lights turn on in the middle of the night, you'll want to know what set them off! Setting the lights to avoid small animals like racoons, rabbits, etc. will help you avoid false alarms!

This indoor motion detector wall switch is made for maximum capability, able to handle commercial applications in an office environment.  If you are looking for a longer timed duration, an extended motion detecting range, the highest possible quality and reliability, and higher power handling in a motion detector light switch, then choose this White Leviton Commerical Grade Wall Occupancy Sensor.

• Lets you adjust to turn only on when environment is dark
• Adjustable light-on duration to 10, 20 or 30 minute durations
• 180 degrees, 2,100 sq foot coverage
• Three-wire installation 
  

Manual Push-Button Override Control
This wall sensor features a convenient override push-button switch.  If the lights are off, pressing the button will turn lights on, and then keep the light on for so long as the room remains occupied with motion.  The lights will then be turned off after the room is vacant and motion stops, after the time-delay expires (whether 10, 20 or 30 minutes).  If the lights are on at the time the button is pressed, then the lights will turn off, and remain off even if the room is occupied.  Handy!

The front door light or front porch light on most homes is not motion controlled.  The light is either on or off, depending on whether someone remembered to flick the switch.  As a result, the light sometimes stays on during the day, or stays off at night - either way, not the best use of the light for either energy cost and conservation or safety.  One easy way to deal with this problem, save money on energy costs and get the safety benefits of a light at your front door that will be on when you need it, is to use a motion sensor light.  These lights come in many decorative styles, colors and designs that are sure to enhance the beauty of your home front.

Not so long ago, motion sensor lights came in only a few, flood light styles.  Colors were typically either black or white, and the industrial look of these lights did not lend themselves well to a front door setting.  Not so any longer.  Even the flood light motion light styles no longer have this drab industrial look.  But look further at the decorative wall-style motion light, and you will find a vast selection of beautiful styles and designs to choose from.