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Now then, it is widely known that if you have a well-lighted facility it tends to curb crime, and it also makes the patrons and customers feel more comfortable, it looks safer in the light. Nevertheless, there are those crime analysts who will argue that it is merely a false sense of security, and whereas that might be true, a well-lit facility will bring in more business in the evening hours. But just how much light is the right light? After all, there is something to be said for light pollution, because it seems to put a glow around the facility which can be seen for miles.

All that light is cumulative, and NASA recently put out an interesting set of digital pictures coming from a satellite where you could see all the major cities in the United States from space based on the light they produced. Humans spend a lot of energy on light, but perhaps in the future they may not because most of the outdoor lighting we have will be energy efficient LED lighting.

There an interesting article in Illumination in Focus titled; "Cree provides indoor and outdoor LED lighting at Sheetz convenience marts," published on November 29, 2012, which stated; "Sheetz, a chain of convenience marts selling food and gas, has chosen Cree LED lighting to retrofit more than 130 locations, with indoor and outdoor SSL fixtures delivering 45% to 55% savings over the prior lighting."

One thing I've noticed is that when you come from one of these super well-lit facilities, and pull out into traffic where the streetlights are quite a bit dimmer, it takes a little while for your eyes to adjust. Because of this you might also be causing your customers danger from traffic accidents as they leave the property. Another common thing is that since it is so well-lit, people often don't turn on their headlights, until they pull out into the darkness and drive halfway down the street.

Some people pulling out of these facilities will within just 300 feet put their bright lights on, because they're having trouble seeing in the dark. This is because their eyes have not yet adjusted. Therefore, it is quite possible that you might have too much light in your strip center, C-store, gas station, fast food restaurant, or business. Yes, it might attract attention and more business, but it might also be causing accidents, and hardships for your customers and patrons, or perhaps anyone who is a pedestrian or riding a bicycle a night nearby.

There are some interesting studies on this that you can search out on Google Scholar talking on these topics and others surrounding the issue of bright LED lights, crime statistics, and challenges with potential accidents. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Business Topics. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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