Save Your Environtment - Install Lighting

Before you install lighting, it's worth asking yourself a few simple question like is lighting necessary? Are the lights angled correctly? Could safety or security be achieved by other measures, such as segregation or screening of an area? Do the lights have to be on all night?

If lighting is the best option then only the right amount of light for the task should be installed. Lighting will then only become a problem if it is poorly designed or in correctly installed.

• For domestic security lights a 150W lamp is adequate. High power (300/500W) lamps create too much glare, actually reducing security. All night porch lights should be low energy.

• Make sure that lights are adjusted to illuminate the area intended and not neighbouring property.

• Security lights should be adjusted so that they only pick up the movement of persons in the immediate area and not beyond.

• To reduce the effects of glare, main beam angles of all lights should be below 70 degrees.

• If up lighting has to be used then install shields above the lamp to reduce the amount of wasted upward light.

• Use solar lighting outside where possible.

The first thing you can do is let light come through windows without interruptions. Remove objects from windows sills and in the summer replace heavy curtains with lightweight blinds or muslin. Place a large mirror opposite the window to reflect light around the room. Choose lights and bright paint colours to reflect lights. Choose a pale flooring for the same reason-glossy surfaces such as polished wood reflect more light than soft, absorbent ones like carpet. Keep large, busy patterns to a minimum, especially in small, dark rooms.