Survey Says: Garages lit with LED seem safer
It's a scene we've seen hundreds of times in movies – predators emerging from the shadows in a dimly lit parking garage. It used to be that you could look for the cigarrette ember so you could meet up with Deep Throat, but Raleigh, North Carolina has beat back the shadows as it became the first LED City. Parking garages in Raleigh have seen their standing with the public improve since LED lighting systems replaced the old high pressure sodium lighting. The whiter, brighter illumination led to a 76 percent increase in "very safe" replies to a survey on how the security of the garage was perceived. Whether the change has precipitated an actual drop in parking garage crime, or if it was even a problem in Raleigh to begin with, we can't say; but changing perception's not a bad thing, either. It's another feather in the cap of LED lighting technology, along with reducing energy consumption and the aforementioned lighting quality. [Source: CREE via engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
piet 11:26AM (4/02/2007)
OK
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Viv 11:26AM (4/02/2007)
There is a night and day difference between the regular lighting and the LED system.
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omar 12:32PM (4/11/2007)
That is a really big difference or you could just buy a 2007 Volvo S80. The PCC will alert you if anyone is in thecar, as it commonly happens, before you enter the vehicle.
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Carlos 11:43AM (4/02/2007)
Experts in the building industry say that the safest night lighting is dim and widespread. Shadows next to bright lights are the least safe scenario.
A bright garage may feel safer, but your eyes will be totally maladjusted to the darkness beyond the lights.
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Frogwhistle 11:48AM (4/02/2007)
I think someone's been playing a little fast and loose with the exposure settings to achieve the desired photographic effect. Not unlike what's going on here:
http://salmonsheets.blogspot.com/2007/03/journalists-with-photoshop.html
LEDs may be better, but I doubt they're orders of magnitude better, as that "after" photo would have me believe.
(And bear in mind that in all likelihood it was the LED manufacturer who commissioned the survey.)
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Maineiac 12:01PM (4/02/2007)
I'm sure idiot criminals are very concerned and are collectively deciding to call it quits. Thanks LED lighting, you're my hero.
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retsel 12:22PM (4/02/2007)
dude... the light in garages are perfect for taking pictures of shiny cars... its gives you a cool red shift... that you cant get anywhere... except photoshop..
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Joe 3:17PM (4/02/2007)
LED Lighting is most definitely the trend... kinda like the Hydrogen car vs. dino fuel IMO. On the other hand, notice the quantity of HPS (1 maybe 2 luminaires) to the LED (at least 11 in the pic).
Even with the larger luminaire quantity and extra fixture expense, the energy consumption will be considerably less.
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your ad here 2:58PM (4/02/2007)
who really cares if dim and widespread (sodium vapor) lights ARE safer.
they are very depressing.
I'd rather someone jump out of the shadows at me than endure these hideous lights.
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Mark Toth 6:04PM (4/02/2007)
Make know mistake, LED Technology has and will continue to break ground into Standard Lighting Systems. Garage Lighting cloked in the issue of security is old news in the lighting bis. The real break throughs are in task,downlighting,display lighting as well as, in-ground lighting. There will be a back lash from the major lamp folks to protect huge investments. The benefits of LED's is the life,lumen maintenance labor savings and wattage savings. To use an industry quip " I will give you ten standard lamps for free and you are still be losing money"
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Nucbuddy 4:33AM (4/03/2007)
#8 said: "the energy consumption will be considerably less."
The energy consumption of LED lighting is about ten times that of typical sodium lighting (the type of lighting that was replaced in this story).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_efficacy#Lighting_efficiency
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