And beyond that, would it be better to invest in motion lights or solar ones?
A porch or flood light can be an asset if it is well-placed and used judiciously.
Here are a few scenarios for when having an exterior light on at night makes sense.
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Intruders are less likely to approach a well-lit exterior as their goal is to remain undetected.
Whether you leave exterior lights on all night depends on the placement and timing.
Some lightslike motion lightsenhance security, while otherslike constant porch lightsdetract from it.
For example, lights pointing directly at entrances are not ideal, according to Harshbarger and Lin.
Heres how a poorly placed light can negatively impact your property.
Reduced Home Security
One porch light is not enough and can actually highlight vulnerabilities to offenders.
Excess Energy Consumption
Some exterior lights, especially older incandescent options, consume excess energy.
Another option are strategic solar lights.
There are also some downsides to keeping lights on all night," says Lin.
Harshbarger says these exterior lights can confuse animals, disrupting their natural behaviors in the process.
To reduce this problem, the experts recommend turning off lights when not needed or using motion-sensing lights.
These lights tend to have a downward cast and lower wattage that is less disruptive to neighbors or animals.
[Another] option is to integrate motion sensors into yoursecurity systemthat only light up when movement is detected.
Motion-sensing lights startle potential trespassers while also managing potential light pollution or energy consumption concerns.
