Top Stories
SHIFT: Why are we paying phone companies billions for ringtones?
What is the most badass gun from sci-fi movies?
CNN's Election Night hologram: How it works
Sections
Archive
RELATED SECTIONS : Environment
How green is too green? How about a motion detecting lightbulb
Yeah, you thought you were done being green. You know all of those lightbulbs you swapped out? Yeah, it may be time to trash them because there is a greener variety out there with the Motionbulb — a green lightbulb that includes a motion sensor.
The Motionbulb is a standard CFL that switches itself on and off thanks to an infrared sensor that detects movement. A switch on the lightbulb allows you to control how long the bulb will stay lit before turning off without movement. It also has an adjustable light meter so it will not turn on at all during daylight hours. Each Motionbulb is available for $20.
Motionbulb, via Gadget Lab
What is Dvice?
Editor: Peter Pachal
editor@dvice.com
editor@dvice.com
Newsletter
Get the top stories from DVICE every week!
By jtarheel at 2:40 PM ON 01/08/08
Motion sensors with florescents may not really save you money. Also, it can be annoying. If you are reading a book or a magazine, or watching TV, there may not be enough movement to keep the light on. So, you have to wave your arm around every 10 minutes(?). Everytime the light goes on, you burn enough electricity to burn the light for an hour.
By GT at 1:08 PM ON 04/08/08
Mythbusters showed that turning on and off any bulb (including flourecents) burned the equivalent of leaving the light on for only a few seconds (of the least efficient bulb)
That being said most bulbs have covers on them that cover any motion sensors rendering them practically useless. You can get a motion sensor switch that is fully adjustable (also includes always off/on) like this light bulb featured for $16 at Ace hardware (and it doesn't burn out.