Security LightingWhen used properly, security lighting is a practical and viable way of making you feel safer in your own home. However, the majority of security lights used are both security and energy inefficient.The most popular security lights are the high powered flood light variety which illuminate when somebody or something passes in front of their sensor. Despite their popularity, they do little to deter criminals, instead causing an annoyance to neighbours, wasting electricity and contributing to the problem of light pollution. Motion detecting flood lights are usually fitted with a high wattage bulb intended to stun criminals on their approach and alert residents of intruders. This works well in theory, however in reality, the powerful beam of light isn?t an effective security measure at all. To begin with, unless fitted properly, the high wattage bulb wastes a lot of light energy, this costs you unnecessary money, is incredibly annoying for neighbours and the glare caused by this type of light can also be hazardous to drivers passing down the street. Although the harsh light emitted by a flood light does illuminate certain areas, it also has the adverse effect of throwing other areas of the garden into deep shadow, providing shelter for any intruder present. When we are exposed to a bright light, followed by darkness, our eyes then take time to adjust, this is known as ?transient adaptation?. Motion-detecting flood lights exacerbate this particular feature of our sight, and actually reduce our visibility at precisely the time we need it most. The main selling point of high powered, motion detecting flood lights is that their illumination will warn residents and neighbours of activity outside their property. The major problem with this assumption is that often these security lights are fitted incorrectly, illuminate when there is no one there and so become ignored by residents and neighbours alike ? effectively rendering them useless. Globes are often used as an alternative to the afore mentioned flood lights because they are much more aesthetically pleasing, both during the night and in daytime. However, as security lights, these also have their problems. Because of their shape, little of the light emitted by a globe illuminates ground level as so much of the light produced is directed towards the sky and to the sides. This means that a very high energy bulb has to be used to even provide dim ground coverage. Again, this is an expensive and energy inefficient way of lighting a garden, even if the lighting effect is pleasing. A better, more effective alternative (from a security, economic and environmental point of view) would be to combine the use of globes with energy efficient ground level lighting. This would mean that by using a low watt bulb in the globe lamps, the aesthetically pleasing effect would still be maintained, and the security element would be enhanced as light would be placed where it is most needed- creating a low level of illumination throughout the garden. Although the above mentioned forms of security lighting are by far the most popular, either for their appearance or because they are relatively cheap to install, there are other forms of security lighting which are more economical, environmentally friendly and most importantly, more efficient as security lights. |
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