Occupancy sensors with sufficient range to monitor the distance served by pole mounted exterior lighting are evolving, and will help reduce night lighting energy use.  The sensors may work with a photocell to turn the lights on and depend on occupancy sensing to either reduce the light level or turn lights off after a pre-set time if no activity is detected.  Occupancy sensor controlled lighting may be an aid in security as well if they bring up fixtures individually or in small groups when activity is detected.  If security is watching, they will then know the location of this unexpected activity.  Adaptive lighting is a term used to describe lighting that operates in response to actual activity.  Electronic HID ballasts and LED technology make exterior lighting more acceptable for a broader range of applications than on/off controls alone.  It is important that any sensors selected be compatible with the other components of the system.

Lighting controls can save significant amounts of energy.  A study found that LED luminaries equipped with motion sensors operated on the “low” setting an average of 55% of the time, saving approximately 1,056 kWh per fixture per year, or approximately 30% energy savings.

Recent advances in networked controls mean that occupancy sensors can be part of a suite of capabilities implemented during the installation of “adaptive lighting management” equipment.  In addition to occupancy, light level and timer controls, networked systems allow individual manual control of lights, outage detection, and metering and logging of energy use.