Confusing European Hotel Light Switch

[bennelson]

Energy-Saving Lights feature in Vienna hotel room - YouTube

You think I would be smart enough to figure out how to turn on the lights.

Apparently, I am not. I just returned from a trip to Vienna, Austria. I was invited there by a University and auto components manufacturer to participate in a “think-tank” program to help create innovative fuel, energy, and carbon-saving features on the cars of the future. But first, I had to check into my hotel room.

Let’s just say that I had already crossed enough time zones that I wasn’t exactly thinking straight anyways. Combine that with my LACK of any knowledge of the local language, and drop me off in a hotel room.

I looked around and didn’t see anything that looked like the typical American light switch. Instead, there were large square toggles, but they didn’t do anything. I flipped several and nothing happened. I also went to the lamps in the room and rotated the switches on the lamps, with no effect either.

Hmmm. It took me a bit to realize that there was an odd card-slot device near the front door. I hadn’t noticed and walked right past when I came in. I experimentally stuck my room card key in, and one of the lights in the room came on. I went around the room and tested the various square toggles, and was able to turn on all the lights.

I’m sure to some of you, I sound like a complete fool. OF COURSE that’s how that works. OF COURSE those big square things are light switches. It’s funny how so many little things are taken for granted – unless, you simply don’t know about them. (It reminds me a bit of the film DEMOLITION MAN, where neither Sylvester Stallone, or the audience, understands the “Three Shells” in the bathroom, but it’s obvious to the people of the future…..)

Once I figured out the “room lights kill switch”, it was hard not to think it was a great idea. I’ve always disliked how hotel rooms are typically set up, when I have to walk all over to turn off lights and lamps individually before leaving, or waste energy leaving several on.

So how else could we apply this? Many American homes have “switched outlets” for lamps, which could also be used for other electronics which don’t need to be on while you aren’t home. Perhaps the home of the future might have a big switch right next to the front door that turns off all non-essential circuits when you leave the home?

Anyways, I feel just slightly less foolish, and a little better traveled for the experience.