Consequence of colour temperature for awareness of security effect in King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

At King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), the pedestrian ways are the main routes between building entry points for people both day and night. When designing pedestrian ways, designers must be aware of safe paths, slope, floor texture and include ample light at night time. Lighting in particular can enhance visibility and thereby engender a sense of security. Therefore, insufficient illumination on pedestrian ways is of great concern. The Thai government supports a budget related to lighting improvement in the university by using LED lamps on pedestrian ways. This project aims to help reduce energy consumption in KMUTT: by changing from 250 watts metal-halide lamps to 75 watts LED lamps, the energy consumption was reduced from 282,510 to 70,627.5 kWh; a 75% decrease. Not only was energy saved, but people’s perception of security was changed after the colour temperature changed from 1,850K. to 4,000K. When conducting a questionnaire survey of 30 participants of different age and gender, participants were tested by walking around KMUTT then stopped at each station and answering questions. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine statistical differences of illumination. The results of this study show the differentiation of security perception. Subjects feel unfamiliarity when they stayed at station 3 and 4. Then station 3 (F (3.614) = 3.156, p<0.026<0.05) and station 4 (F (4.328) = 8.381, p<0.013<0.05).The subjects feel unsecure when stopping at station 2, station 3, station 4, and station 6. There were significant results on station 2 (p<0.00), station 3 (p<0.00), station 4 (p<0.010) and station 6 (p<0.00). In conclusion, colour temperature affects familiarity and pedestrians’ feeling of security. Significant results (sig. >0.00>0.05) can be analysed that subjects feel familiarity with Daylight (LED) more than Warm (metal-halide) stations.