Feeling The Heat

 

A new lighting sensor saves energy and even bestows Promethean powers. Called Infracon, it detects body heat and turns lights on when someone enters the room. Lights go off 12 minutes after the last person has left.

Infracon was created through a joint venture of United Technologies Corp. in Hartford and Tishman Research Corp. in Toledo. Tested in late 1982 atthe World Trade Center in New York, it cut lighting-energy consumption in offices by 56%.

"The system is effective anywhere and quickly pays for itself, no matter what size the building," claims Tishman president Joseph Newman. A recent survey conducted by his company shows that nearly 40% of an average commercial building's electricity is used on lighting. "Infracon strikes at the heart of the energy waste problem," he says, "which is the chronic failure of people to shut off lights when they leave a room."

Infracon units, mounted flush with a suspended ceiling, can be integrated with existing lighting systems. A single unit costs about $135 (with discounts for large orders) and handles 500 watts incandescent or 1,500 watts fluorescent. The sensor detects body heat up to six feet away; 50 to 100 units would be required for a typical office of 20,000 square feet, depending on the layout.

For the name of an Infracon distributor in your area, contact Tishman Research Corp., 3150 Republic Blvd. North, Suite 5, Toledo, OH 43615.