Preventing Light Nuisance

Before installing lighting ask a few simple questions:

• Is the lighting necessary?
• Could safety or security be achieved by other measures?
• Do the lights have to be on all night?

If lighting is necessary, steps should be taken to avoid causing a nuisance:

• Only use the right amount of light suitable for the task in hand
• For domestic security lights a 150W lamp is sufficient (high power lamps create too much glare, reducing security and offer poor energy consumption)
• For an all-night porch light, a 9W lamp is more than adequate for most situations
• Make sure that lights are correctly adjusted so that they only light the area intended and do not throw light onto neighbouring property
• Adjust security lights so that they only pick up the movement of persons in the area intended and not beyond

Further guidance can be found below:

• Getting Light Right - DEFRA
• Guidance on the reduction of Intrusive Light - Institute of Lighting Engineers (select FREE download)