In 2007 Cree and Raleigh, North Carolina, Launch Nation’s First “LED City” with Cost-Saving Municipal Lighting
Raleigh Recognizes Greater than 40 Percent Energy Savings as Municipal Garage Switches to LED Lighting.Cree, Inc., a U.S.-based leader in LED solid-state lighting components, and the
City of Raleigh, North Carolina, the anchor city in a rapidly growing metro area, developed a joint, city-wide initiative to test, deploy and promote LED
technology focused on a variety of general lighting applications.
The
“LED City” initiative will create a “living laboratory” to
deliver the economic, environmental and usage benefits of LED lighting
to the urban residents.
The first project is focused on validating
both the cost savings and technology capabilities of LEDs through an
installation of LED lighting in the City’s Municipal Building parking
deck.
Both Cree and Raleigh public officials expect the initiative to
serve as a model for other cities that are considering implementing
energy-efficient infrastructures.
As part of the commitment to
creating an “LED City,” Raleigh plans to deploy LED lighting, through
its living-laboratory initiative, to serve a number of lighting
applications over the next 18 months including:
- garage and parking lot lights
- street lights
- architectural and accent lighting
- portable lighting
- pedestrian and
walkway lighting
Cree, the City of
Raleigh and Lighting Science Group Corporation (OTCBB: LSGP) of Dallas,
TX, also announced initial results of the first installation of the LED
City initiative. LED-based lighting fixtures, provided by Lighting
Science Group, were installed by Amtech Lighting Services in the
Raleigh Municipal Building parking deck in December 2006. Progress
Energy, Raleigh’s primary electric utility provider, says the floor
equipped with LED lights uses over 40 percent less energy than the
standard lighting system. Plus, according to Progress Energy’s
research, the quality of light in the garage is greatly improved.
“The
economic benefits for municipalities to invest in LEDs are clear – they
- save energy
- reduce environmental impact
- improve the quality of
light
As leaders in one of America’s fastest growing cities, it’s our
civic responsibility to invest in the future and ensure the highest
possible quality of life and safety for our citizens in generations to
come,” stated Charles Meeker, Raleigh mayor. “We believe that the cost
savings and benefits of LED lighting are real and achievable today.”
“Today’s
announcement represents a milestone toward large-scale adoption of
clean, energy-efficient technologies,” commented Kateri Callahan,
president of the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance to Save Energy (ASE).
“Raleigh’s progressive commitment to becoming the first ‘LED City’ will
no doubt serve as a model for other cities seeking to improve energy
consumption and reduce negative impacts on the environment. We commend
Cree and the City of Raleigh for helping support our mission of
achieving a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy
security.”
“The City of Raleigh is willing to set the pace, and
we invite other municipalities to join us in developing
energy-efficient civic centers,” said Chuck Swoboda, Cree CEO and
chairman. “This leading-edge effort establishes an important driver for
LED adoption within the United States.”
About the City of Raleigh, N.C.The
City of Raleigh is the municipal government for North Carolina’s
capital city. Raleigh’s reputation for the high
quality of living has grown the population to more than 350,000. The
City is proud to provide the leadership, direction and daily services
that have contributed to Raleigh being among America’s most livable
cities.
About Lighting Science Group CorporationLighting Science Group Corporation (
www.lsgc.com)
designs and sells highly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly
lighting solutions based on its proprietary Optimized Digital Lighting®
(ODL®) technology. The Company's patented and patent-pending designs
and manufacturing processes enable affordable, efficient and
long-lasting LED-based lighting systems to be quickly deployed in
existing lighting applications and produce immediate cost savings and
environmental benefits. Products include low bay fixtures for parking
garages and industrial facilities, MR-16, R30, R25, G11, G25,
candelabra and flame tip bulbs, which can be purchased at
store.lsgc.com.
About Cree, Inc.Cree
is a market-leading innovator and manufacturer of semiconductors and
devices in solid-state lighting, power and
communications products for energy
performance and efficiency. Key to Cree’s market advantage is its
materials expertise in silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium
nitride (GaN) for chips and packaged devices that can handle more power
in a smaller space while producing less heat than other available
technologies, materials and products.
Cree licenses its technology into multiple applications, including alternatives in brighter and more-tunable light for general
illumination, backlighting for more-vivid displays, optimized power
management for high-current, switch-mode power supplies and
variable-speed motors, and more-effective wireless infrastructure for
data and voice communications. Cree customers range from
lighting-fixture makers to defense-related federal agencies.
Cree’s
product families include blue and green LED chips, lighting LEDs, LED
backlighting solutions, power-switching devices and
radio-frequency/wireless devices. For additional product specifications
please refer to
www.cree.com.
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