Blinded by the light: the pros and cons of security lighting
August 18th 2010 05:08 pm
They’re not just some words Bruce Springsteen put in a song once. The right lighting can stop home intruders in their tracks, particularly with homes. While a good home security system is still recommended to protect during the day, a security lighting system can serve as the proverbial icing on the cake of your home’s security. It makes sense: lights give the impression of someone being at home, and could deter prospective intruders before they approach. If you have cameras, better security lighting can also make it easier to see the features of prospective criminals.There are a variety of home security lighting options available, including phosphorescent, incandescent, solar, and LED. Motion-detection is an extra feature which can save energy and surprise intruders. Make sure that the lights are high enough off the ground to avoid being reached by criminals, and that the light is directed at the ground. If the lights are poorly set up, they can actually help braver criminals by increasing the glare around your home.Security lighting in public areas has not been proven to be as effective, however. Some studies have shown that crime actually increases when schools and cities add more public lighting. Reasons could be that bright lights create glare and stop people from noticing illegal activity, while making it easier for criminals to pick their targets. When designing the lighting system around a public area, security professionals should make a special note to avoid glare. This can be done by adding more lights of lower power, and shielding bulbs with wire mesh or polycarbonate shields.