An easy way to improve the safety of your home—and save energy in the process—is to install a motion-sensing outdoor light fixture. These turn on when they detect movement and also turn off automatically, giving you illumination only when you need it and foiling potential intruders.

The following instructions detail how to replace an existing fixture with a motion-sensing fixture.

1) Once you have made sure that the circuit supplying power to the fixture has been shut off, remove the existing fixture. To do so, loosen the nuts and/or screws that secure the fixture to the wall. Use a voltage tester to ensure that there is no power coming from the wires in the box.

2) Grasp the new fixture, and pull its wires through the attached rubber gasket. Attach the fixture’s leads to the box’s corresponding wires, starting with the green ground lead (or screw) and wire and continuing on to the white and black leads and wires.

3) Raise the fixture into place, making sure the rubber gasket forms a good seal with the box. Fasten the fixture with nuts and/or screws. Double-check the seal.

4) Turn the circuit back on to supply power to the fixture. Aim the light in the direction you would like illumination. Tighten the nut to secure the light in place.

5) Turn the sensor so that it picks up motion on your path and also in your yard. Be careful not to aim it so that it detects movement from cars driving by. Calibrate your sensor’s range of sensitivity (many have a dial allowing you to do so).

6) Set the timer on your motion-sensor light—this tells the sensor how long the light should stay on after detecting movement.