As multi let property owners, landlords and HMO managers for clients in Cardiff and across South Wales we are continually striving to reduce waste and utility bills while reducing our carbon foot print, so we have decided to share some of the practices we employ to reduce our gas and electricity bills and will be providing a number of useful guides.

We have Rooms in Cardiff spread across a number of houses in the city predominately let as professional house shares.  Our young professional target market expect their monthly rent to be inclusive of utility bills, broadband, council tax and water rates, but do forgot to turn the lights off from time to time.

 Our solution

We have fitted Passive Infrared (PIR) Sensors in communal areas such as hallways and landings.  A PIR sensor or PID (Passive Infrared Detector) is essentially a motion sensor which are fitted to the ceiling and used to control automatically activated lighting systems eliminating the need for light switches.

Benefits of PIR Sensors

PIR sensors offer a modern and stylish alternative to the traditional light switch and cannot be tampered with unlike Pneumatic Time Delay Switches which can be kept in the “on” position using tape or “wedging” with various materials such as matches and card.

The better quality PIR Sensors also offer the user a variety of settings such as length of time the lights remain turned on, range of detection as well as light sensitivity enabling an automatic lighting system that is environmentally friendly and will save money from the first day it is installed.

PIR Sensors are easy for a qualified electrician to install and cost varies from about £12.00 to £30.00 per sensor.

Choosing a PIR Sensor

I would recommend opting for a higher end of the price range PIR Sensor as they offer greater flexibility when configuring your automatic lighting system.  We initially opted for a lower priced sensor and found them to be over sensitive to light and actually kept coming on during daylight hours as well as being sensitive to changes in air pressure.  We found that the opening and closing of fire doors and the associated air movement actually set off our lower priced PIR sensors.

 Positioning of PIR Sensor

Be aware when positioning your PIR Sensors, if the area they are fixed receives very little natural light this result in the sensor behaving as if it were night and once again your sensor will trigger the lights to turn on during daylight hours.

PIR sensors are a modern way to providing lighting in communal areas of a HMO or multi let property while cutting electricity bills and our carbon footprint.  After trialling them in one of our Cardiff professional house shares we intend to use them in existing and newly purchased properties.

If you have any questions relating to using PIR sensors or anything elase HMO and Multi Let related feel free to contact us via email info@roomsincardiff.co.uk