Products & Ideas...

Okay, you've installed CFL light bulbs in your house to save energy, but what's the next step for saving energy and saving money? How about installing motion sensors to automatically turn some of your lights on and off?

Motion sensors are a great solution for garages, hallways and other parts of your house that see a lot of "through" traffic. You can set them to turn a light on when someone walks into a room, then turn off on their own a few minutes later. No more worries about accidentally not turning off a light when you no longer need it!

The wide range of devices on the market offer you a long list of possible features and settings. Some motion sensors plug into a wall outlet, while some others are battery powered. Some control lights or other devices wirelessly, while other models allow you to you plug the device you want to control directly into them. No matter what you pick, a motion sensor should help you to reduce your energy costs while adding a degree of security that normal light switches don't provide.

And yes, motion sensors aren't just for lights. You can also use them to control radios, fans, or just about any other household electronics that don't need to be on 24/7.

Of course, motion sensors consume their own power, so there is a bit of a trade-off. Meanwhile, they cost at least $15, with models raning up to $50 and more, so you might not make that money back immediately. But in this day of rising energy prices, every little bit helps, right?