Motion Sensor Light Switches In Hotel Bathrooms; Bright Idea? Or Maybe Not?

The leaves were starting to turn for the annual fall foliage show in the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan.  iPhone snapshot through the front window of the vehicle at 60mph. (click to enlarge)

During my recent road trip, I encountered something I had never before experienced.  While in Barstow, California, we stayed in one of the major hotel chains.  You would readily recognize the name.  Evidently, the hotel recently had gone through a renovation of sorts and in the process had motion-activated light switches installed in their bathrooms.  What’s the issue you say?

In and of itself, motion-activated light switches make sense, especially since many people, when exiting a room, leave the bathroom or other room light on.  A motion-activated switch can save energy.  But a bathroom in a hotel?

This kind of reminds me of some hotels whose heating and air conditioning systems are also motion sensitive.  When no one is in the room, after a period of time, the system shuts down and saves energy.  Why condition the air when there is no one present to benefit from it?  That's great except when you are sleeping and, of course, not moving, the system shuts down and you either get cold or hot—uncomfortable or 'stale' as I call it from air that has been still too long.  Another 'almost' brilliant idea.  Back to the bathroom light issue.

During the night I found myself getting up to use the facilities (as many older men as well as sometimes anyone may do).  It is rare for me, but in this case, I did.  When I walked into the bathroom—Ta Da!  It’s now full daylight!  The lights came on.  Bright and white!  Wince.  Squint.  Cover my eyes. Wow!  Full daylight bright white lights will fully wake you up when you obviously want to go back to sleep.  If I wasn't fully awake when I got up to go to the bathroom, I certainly was after the surprise.  Not good!

No, there isn’t a way to disable the motion activation.  I asked at the front desk.  In fact, I asked two different people and both said no.  How could that be?  The best you can do is push part of the sensor to turn it off before it automatically turns off after a period of time.

Whoever thought of this ‘convenience’ and ‘energy saving’ idea didn’t quite think it through.  Good idea, bad execution.  There should be a "night" setting or a way to disable the motion activation temporaily, at least.

Just beware.  Sometimes automation and good intentions have not so good unintentional consequences.  Yes, partially "blinded by the light" (song lyrics by Manfred Mann?), I stumbled back into bed and resumed my night's sleep.  Gumpily, I might add.

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Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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