STREET LIGHTING, ENERGY CONSERVATION AND CRIME (LEAA EMERGENCY ENERGY COMMITTEE ENERGY REPORT NUMBER 2)

• NCJ Number: 12493
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

SUGGESTIONS TO ASSIST PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN SAVING ENERGY TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, WITH REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY BROUGHT ABOUT BY STREET LIGHTING.

Abstract

STREET LIGHTS UTILIZE ABOUT .7 PERCENT OF THE ELECTRICAL ENERGY GENERATED IN THIS NATION. THE PUBLIC'S RETURN FOR THIS CONSUMPTION OF NOW SCARCE ENERGY IS A GENERAL FEELING THAT STREET LIGHTS HAVE A DETERRENT EFFECT ON STREET CRIMES. THIS EFFECT IS SOMEWHAT SUBSTANTIATED BY RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY LEAA AND BY THE FACT THAT VARIOUS COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE INSTALLED IMPROVED STREET LIGHTING IN CERTAIN AREAS HAVE REPORTED REDUCTIONS IN THE RATE OF STREET CRIME. THUS, IT IS THE JUDGMENT OF LEAA THAT ANY AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS JUSTIFIED IN NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TOWARD REDUCING STREET LIGHTING IF IT SO CHOOSES. HOWEVER, THERE ARE TWO REASONS WHY REDUCTIONS IN STREET LIGHTING ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY A COMMUNITY MAY BE WARRANTED. SEVERE ENERGY SHORTAGES IN SOME COMMUNITIES MAY REQUIRE ALL POSSIBLE CONSERVATION ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN. IN ADDITION, REDUCTIONS IN STREET LIGHTING ENERGY CONSUMPTION IS A HIGHLY VISIBLE ACTION WHICH COULD SERVE TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ALL OTHER CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES.