Lowtech Graph lists low-tech options for every need of a home. Here you can compare them, find tutorials to build them, and link them together into a circular system. Why low-tech?
Motion-activated exterior lighting
Needs the grid
One of 3 ways to meet this need. Cost, carbon, footprint and rankings are relative to other solutions for the same need, not absolute.
Outdoor lights that switch on by themselves when someone moves nearby. They light the way at night and surprise anyone approaching unseen. They use very little power because they are off most of the time.
Levels are relative to the other options for this need, not absolute. Fewer dots is lighter.
Motion-activated exterior lighting (This page) Can I use it? Works in a flat · No rebuilding needed What does it cost me? Upfront cost: Low · Skill to build: Basic · Upkeep: Light · Change to daily life: None · Works without the grid: No Choose it if you want dark approaches lit only when someone comes, for very little power.
Passive-surveillance site layout Can I use it? Not in a flat · New build only What does it cost me? Upfront cost: Low · Skill to build: None · Upkeep: None · Change to daily life: None · Works without the grid: Yes Choose it if you are laying out a new site and want to deter intruders at no cost.
Mechanical locking hardware + shutters Can I use it? Works in a flat · No rebuilding needed What does it cost me? Upfront cost: Low · Skill to build: Basic · Upkeep: Light · Change to daily life: Occasional · Works without the grid: Yes Choose it if you want protection that works without power, with shutters that also guard the glass and keep heat in.
Sources
General motion-lighting industry durability consensus
Limitations of this page
We don’t list sizing or quantities, as the yield of each technique depends on the quality of its build. The catalogue compares options but doesn’t dimension them. Regulatory notes are indicative, with a French example, and need to be confirmed locally.