Why You May Want To Think Twice Before Keeping Your Exterior Lights On Overnight

Is it safer to keep your home lit up at night or should you turn the lights down when you go to bed? It's a common recommendation to use exterior lighting to increase your home's security, but it could actually have the opposite effect, making your home a target for intruders, depending on your lighting setup and the details of your home. Leaving your lights on all night also increases your energy consumption, especially if you have older lights, and the illumination contributes to light pollution and could even affect wildlife.

About 15% of your electricity consumption goes to lighting for your home. Leaving your lights on all night increases your energy usage, particularly if your exterior fixtures use incandescent bulbs. If you want to leave your exterior lights on, switch to LEDs, which reduce electricity use by up to 90%. Another energy-saving solution is installing outdoor solar lights for your yard to eliminate the need for electricity completely.

Even with energy-efficient exterior lighting solutions, you might want to flip the switch off at night to avoid accidentally creating cover for burglars or irritating your neighbors. Overly bright illumination or lights that are directed toward your neighbor's windows could interfere with their comfort, cause sleep disruptions, and create tense relationships. Artificial nighttime light also interferes with wildlife and plants, particularly nocturnal animals that rely on darkness at night and migratory birds that might get disoriented or incorrectly directed toward cities.

Maximizing outdoor lighting to improve home security can be challenging. If your home has a single light fixture, leaving it on could make breaking into your home easier. When burglars can spot the front door easily, they know which areas to avoid. Poorly placed lights often cast shadows, creating cover for accessing your home through another entrance point. The glare from lights can make it more difficult for you to see what's in the shadows, so you might not notice someone hiding in the dark.

If you live in a remote location, leaving exterior lights on shows potential intruders right where your home is when it might otherwise go unnoticed. It could also emphasize the fact that you don't have any nearby neighbors who might notice a break-in. Exterior illumination makes it easier for someone to sneak up to your home with potential hazards, like ravines or brush, being highlighted so they can avoid them.

Using motion-sensor exterior lights could be more effective because it alerts you to movement and could scare away a burglar. It's also important to consider other safety measures like locking doors, using a security system, and improving the security of your door hinges. There are several inexpensive tips that can help protect your home from intruders, including knowing when to use your exterior lights. It's safe to keep lights on if you're home and awake, you're getting home late, or you're waiting on a delivery. Shutting the lights off is best if you're on vacation, as potential intruders might notice that you only use lights when you're away.