An apparatus (20, 140), comprising: a germicidal source (22, 142); power supply circuitry coupled to the germicidal source; a shield, wherein the shield and/or the germicidal source are repositionable within the apparatus such that: the germicidal source may be encased in the apparatus; and the germicidal source may not be encased in the apparatus; a sensor to detect whether the germicidal source is encased in the apparatus and/or to detect whether the germicidal source is not encased in the apparatus; an additional sensor to detect movement and/or occupancy within an ambient of the apparatus; an actuator coupled to the germicidal source or to the shield; a processor; and a storage medium having program instructions which are executable by the processor for: activating the additional sensor when the germicidal source is exposed to an ambient of the apparatus; inhibiting operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide upon the additional sensor detecting movement and/or occupancy during a predetermined amount of time after said activating the additional sensor; activating the power supply circuitry to the germicidal source to generate a germicide when the germicidal source is exposed to an ambient of the apparatus and when the additional sensor does not detect movement and/or occupancy during the predetermined amount of time; terminating operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide upon the additional sensor detecting movement and/or occupancy subsequent to said activating the power supply circuitry to the germicidal source to generate a germicide; upon said inhibiting operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide or said terminating operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide, activating the actuator to move the germicidal source or the shield such that the germicidal source is encased in a chamber of the apparatus; and subsequently activating the power supply circuitry to the germicidal source to generate a germicide for a disinfection process conducted interior to the chamber. a germicidal source (22, 142); power supply circuitry coupled to the germicidal source; a shield, wherein the shield and/or the germicidal source are repositionable within the apparatus such that: the germicidal source may be encased in the apparatus; and the germicidal source may not be encased in the apparatus; the germicidal source may be encased in the apparatus; and the germicidal source may not be encased in the apparatus; a sensor to detect whether the germicidal source is encased in the apparatus and/or to detect whether the germicidal source is not encased in the apparatus; an additional sensor to detect movement and/or occupancy within an ambient of the apparatus; an actuator coupled to the germicidal source or to the shield; a processor; and a storage medium having program instructions which are executable by the processor for: activating the additional sensor when the germicidal source is exposed to an ambient of the apparatus; inhibiting operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide upon the additional sensor detecting movement and/or occupancy during a predetermined amount of time after said activating the additional sensor; activating the power supply circuitry to the germicidal source to generate a germicide when the germicidal source is exposed to an ambient of the apparatus and when the additional sensor does not detect movement and/or occupancy during the predetermined amount of time; terminating operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide upon the additional sensor detecting movement and/or occupancy subsequent to said activating the power supply circuitry to the germicidal source to generate a germicide; upon said inhibiting operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide or said terminating operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide, activating the actuator to move the germicidal source or the shield such that the germicidal source is encased in a chamber of the apparatus; and subsequently activating the power supply circuitry to the germicidal source to generate a germicide for a disinfection process conducted interior to the chamber. activating the additional sensor when the germicidal source is exposed to an ambient of the apparatus; inhibiting operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide upon the additional sensor detecting movement and/or occupancy during a predetermined amount of time after said activating the additional sensor; activating the power supply circuitry to the germicidal source to generate a germicide when the germicidal source is exposed to an ambient of the apparatus and when the additional sensor does not detect movement and/or occupancy during the predetermined amount of time; terminating operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide upon the additional sensor detecting movement and/or occupancy subsequent to said activating the power supply circuitry to the germicidal source to generate a germicide; upon said inhibiting operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide or said terminating operation of the germicidal source to generate a germicide, activating the actuator to move the germicidal source or the shield such that the germicidal source is encased in a chamber of the apparatus; and subsequently activating the power supply circuitry to the germicidal source to generate a germicide for a disinfection process conducted interior to the chamber.