ETC introduces Unison Paradigm Responsive Controls

The eco-conscious and budget-minded now have a new way to cut back on energy expenditures. ETC's Paradigm Responsive Controls -- the newest additions to the award-winning Unison Paradigm family of architectural control -- are a sleek, convenient way to reduce wasted electricity in any space.

Paradigm Occupancy/Vacancy Sensors use passive infrared sensors (PIR) to detect vacancy, automatically shutting lights off when a space is unoccupied. They can also be configured to turn on when someone enters a room. ETC architectural market manager Joe Bokelman says, "The Occupancy/Vacancy Sensors save energy, because you're not paying to light an empty room."

The sensors are available with masks to prevent trips or false triggers. Instead of having to dismantle the product to install the masks, the Paradigm Occupancy/Vacancy Sensors let users depress the microlens dome and slide the mask into place on the outside of the sensor. That means hassle-free installation.

Paradigm Light Sensors also reduce electrical use by tapping into Paradigm's advanced daylight-harvesting capabilities and reducing the output of lighting fixtures based on the amount of natural light in an area. Bokelman explains, "If there's sunlight streaming in through a skylight or shining through a window, it doesn't make sense to have the lights on at full. The Paradigm Light Sensors take advantage of the free sunlight and adjust the lights accordingly. The room stays as bright as it needs to be without wasting electricity on an already well-lit space."

Large atriums with high ceilings can benefit from Paradigm's daylight harvesting, because the Light Sensors feature a RemoLux head that can be installed up to 1,000' away from the main controller station. The head is IP65-rated, so it can even be used outdoors. The DuaLux mode extends the reach of the Paradigm Light Sensors even further, allowing for two separate heads to be connected to a single controller station. One can be used locally and the other remotely or both can be used remotely -- up to 1,000' from the controller. They offer automatic light-value averaging, and can also provide simple light detection for on/off functionality.

Both the Occupancy/Vacancy Sensors and Light Sensors are low-profile and able to blend into their surroundings without detracting from the look of a venue.