You should treat your porch light the same as you would any other room in the house. Not only is leaving the lights on overnight bad for the environment, but it also suggests that the home is not in use if it is left on overnight.
Outdoor security lighting is effective if there are people — neighbors, pedestrians or police — to actually see suspicious activity. "If you're in a rural area, you're basically in a secluded area — you're better off turning off because the lights would help an intruder actually see," Felson says.
A Porch Light Can Keep Intruders Away
One of the main reasons that people leave their porch light on is to increase the security of their homes while they sleep. It lets people know that someone is home, including criminals and thieves who may be looking for vulnerable properties.
Experts agree that the cost of leaving a light on is minimal. According to Florida Power & Light, leaving a standard 60-watt bulb on for 12 hours every day would add less than $3 to a monthly power bill.
For the average break-in, the presence of lighting is not even a factor as daylight would overshadow any security lighting. So do outdoor lights deter crime? They can, but only for a small portion of potential burglaries.
The Lights Are on But No One's Home
Don't leave your lights on at home throughout your entire vacation in an effort to make it look like someone is in the house. Your electric bill will end up more costly than your mortgage, and house lights blazing throughout the night might look a bit suspicious.
Similarly, your 24-hour outdoor light doesn't really deter burglars. Instead, they'll be thankful for the light it provides them with. With a light on, burglars can see any obstacles that could create noise, and will also highlight any weak points or entry points around your home.
Leaving your outside lights on at night can give the illusion that someone is home, and help neighbors keep watch of your property. However, leaving your lights on all day and night can be a clear indicator that nobody is at the property, which works against you.
But it costs too much to leave your light on…
Assuming a 60 watt bulb and 730 hours a month, a bulb running all the time uses about 43.8 Kw (kilowatt hours) of energy (60 x 730 / 1000). It costs us about 10 cents per Kw depending on the time of day and the plan you are on (night-time is much lower on some plans).
So switching to a red light a few hours before going to bed will surely help you fall asleep easier. Additionally, if you wake up during the night, being exposed to red light will make it easier to fall back asleep than being exposed to blue or green light emitted from white light.
Conversely, blue porch lights can also convey messages of support and respect to the police force and their families. It can be adopted at any time of the year to honor the police for their hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to keeping everyone in the country safe.
Americans use green porch lights to show support for U.S. military veterans. The idea began as part of an initiative called the Greenlight a Vet project.
To hear Levitan and Lloyd tell it, the ending was designed to mirror real life and the ways in which families often splinter, with the final shot — Phil and Claire leaving their porch light on — as a sign that everyone will come home again.
The “Purple Light Campaign” is the universal color for domestic violence awareness and if a house is using a purple porch light, they're most likely spreading awareness about domestic violence or are survivors of it.
Various factors attracts bugs, but porch lights is known to be the main factor, especially during the night throughout the spring and summer months. From parties to other simple outdoor gatherings, this can pose a problem as guests are likely to be deterred by insect bites or constant rhymical buzzing.
Generally LED light bulbs are best for a front porch, as they are the most energy efficient choice. 'LEDs are the gold standard of outdoor lighting', explains Kristen Monji from Birch + Basil. 'You can buy a range of different options to suit the space,' adds Kristen.
Outdoor lighting should fall between 12-1,300 lumens, depending on the purpose of the lighting. For example, you wouldn't want an intensely bright light for your outdoor living area because it could overwhelm you and your guests.
One of the most concerning things that comes as a result of leaving the lights on is our carbon dioxide emissions. This is the primary greenhouse gas that is emitted through human activities, the continual pattern of leaving lights on included. Over time, these emissions are incredibly harmful to the environment.
Here are some of the top things burglars look for when targeting homes. Single-family detached homes in the middle of the neighborhood (as opposed to corner units, which are less likely to be burglarized). Homes next to empty lots or without nearby neighbors. High privacy hedges, bushes, and walls around the property.
Active neighbors may also signal to burglars to potentially move on to another neighborhood. Lights on in the home deter some, but others recognize it as a decoy if there are no other signs that people are home. Solid-core wood doors and heavy-duty metal doors mean breaking into that residence may be more difficult.
Technically speaking, yes, you can leave LED lights on 24/7.
With that said, you should be aware that leaving your LED lights on 24/7 isn't necessarily the best practice; using LED bulbs constantly will cause their components to wear out faster, ultimately shortening the lifespan of the bulbs.
Blue symbolizes Autism Month and Police respect. Shining a blue light is a nationwide recognition of the Police Officers who have died in the line of duty. This is also known as, Project Blue Light.
Red Porch Light: Support for Firefighters. Purple Porch Light: Support for Domestic Violence Awareness. Yellow Porch Light: Support for Missing Children Awareness. Orange Porch Light: Support for Multiple Sclerosis Awareness. White Porch Light: Support for Emergency Medical Services.