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National Lighting Bureau Page 2 of 3 As a result, the college was able to reduce security patrols without compromising security in any way. The security patrol savings amounted to $10,000 per year, and that financial benefit gave the project a two-and-a-half-year payback. Based on energy savings alone, payback would not have occurred for more than 20 years. This means that the project might not have been implemented at all, or that the 150 watt high-pressure sodium lamps would have been chosen, saving energy, but having precious little impact on security and security cost savings. Lighting is by far the most visible form of security available. It discourages vandalism, break-ins, and the "hanging out" that too often leads to violence. At the same time, better lighting greatly enhances the performance of the personnel and other equipment (e.g., CCTV) used to provide security and keep the peace, because the personnel and equipment depend on visual inputs. Lighting used for security purposes can also have other important benefits. The case of Bryant College (Smithfield, RI) is illustrative. At Bryant, the security problem was an outdoor parking lot, a location problematic for many schools across the nation. The lot in question was used principally by night students and faculty. Students reported that they were afraid for their personal safety and personal belongings being taken from their cars. The new lighting Bryant installed virtually eliminated the problem. Auto break-ins ended, and the very few incidents of vandalism that did occur were reduced from minor to petty status. As a side benefit, the number of vehicular accidents that occurred in the parking lot was cut by ao percent, and the risk of vehicle/pedestrian accident became extremely low. Better lighting in such cases can also improve good will. Consider, for example, a school's lowered exposure to claims, litigation, and bad publicity as a consequence of assaults, vehicle/pedestrian accidents, or even simple incidents of slipping or tripping. The lack of adequate lighting could cause someone to not see a patch of ice or ponded water or some wind-blown debris, or even miss three steps. Bryant College also enhanced the quality of its roadway lighting, and the number of moving accidents was reduced significantly. The new lighting was comforting to students, their parents, visitors, and faculty, sending a message that stated, "We care about safety." Some administrators may worry that security lighting will make a school "look like an armed fortress," but that does not have to be the case at all. At any number of schools and other facilities, lighting designed principally to provide security is also used to enhance the appearance of buildings and grounds. Better lighting can also provide opportunities to generate income, particularly for athletic events. Parents and school supporters will often attend a night game that they would miss if it were held during the day. By lighting areas around a fieid or stadium, opportunities for crime are reduced, and opportunities for additional revenues concession sales are increased. In North Andover, Mass., Merrimack College significantly upgraded lighting in its Volpe Physical Education Center. The Center included a 3,500-seat ice skating arena and an aOO-seat gym. The lighting, which was generally considered dim, gave the beautiful interior a somewhat shabby appearance. The school invested in new lighting. First one, then two, then three and more schools asked about renting the arena for hockey practice. Event promoters and civic associations of all types began asking about renting the facility for events, all of which generated income to the school, or which the school offered pro bono to benefit the community. http://www.nlb.ora/publications/artsafetV.html 7/16/2002