Recently in Environmental Impact of LED Lights Category

150 Hz operating frequency for LED fixtures by DOE challenged

CHALLENGE DOE ENERGY STAR REQUIREMENTS FOR INTEGRAL LED LAMPS

Once Innovations, a Minnesota based research, development and manufacturing company with a firm focus on LED technologies announced today its intent to formally challenge newly finalized ENERGY STAR Eligibility Criteria for Integral LED Lamps.

"We feel that the increase in operating frequency requirements was erroneously based on speculation about visual flicker, which has nothing to do with energy conservation. The new 150 Hz criteria will hinder the introduction of low cost, energy savings AC LED lighting solutions, which is contrary to the goals of the ENERGY STAR program," stated Mr. Zdenko Grajcar, CEO and Chief Technology Officer at Once Innovations.

Grajcar went on to state, "We stipulate that 60 Hz luminous modulation (flicker) is likely to cause certain discomfort in some people. However, the majority of low frequency AC LED systems operate in the rectified mode, which effectively doubles the luminous modulation frequency to 120Hz for 60Hz mains in the United States. Despite many attempts, laboratory investigations have not found statistically significant effects of luminous modulation with frequencies over 100Hz on human performance, health, or comfort. We've collected studies with hundreds of pages of research material that show no evidence other than speculative statistics to support claims that luminous modulation over 100Hz is visible or harmful to human health. This change in frequencies will have a profoundly negative impact on the future of energy efficient lighting in the United States. As such, we feel we have no other choice but to challenge the DOE decision. At the same time, we strongly urge other manufacturers and users of AC LED technologies to do the same. "

"The last minute change to 150 Hz operating frequency raises a stumbling block to new low cost, high efficiency AC LED lighting technology, which promises tremendous energy savings potential in the U.S." added Mr. Craige Thompson, Chief Legal Officer at Once Innovations. Mr. Thompson went on to say, "The increase to 150 Hz appears to be arbitrary and applied in a way that discriminates against new, more efficient LED technologies in favor of other forms of light fixtures. The DOE should examine the relevant facts and articulate a rational connection between the facts and the frequency specification." Mr. Thompson explained, "The electrical grid in the U.S. operates on 60 Hz. Therefore, rectified topologies will operate at 120 Hz modulation. Generating frequencies above 150 Hz is generally much more complex and expensive. Before increasing the frequency requirement to 150 Hz for LED-based fixtures, the DOE should provide an opportunity for notice and comment pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act."

 
Once Innovations, Inc. is a privately held corporation that manufactures highly differentiated LED lighting using a visionary approach to research and product development - from unique designs with proprietary technologies through final production and distribution. Once was founded in 2008 by current CTO, Zdenko Grajcar, considered a pioneering rebel in LED technology for his remarkably unconventional thinking and relentless challenge to the industry status quo. The Once Innovations technology research, marketing, and product development campus is located in Plymouth, MN United States of America.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Moody
E: jmoody@onceinnovations.com
T: +1.763.381.5621
W: www.onceinnovations.com
5455 Highway 169 N
Plymouth, MN 55442
United States of America


Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

Osram Life-cycle Assessment has concluded that "LED lamps are already today more than five times more efficient than incandescent lamps and future technical achievements offer additional potential for the coming years."

Read the LED life-cycle research! The total LCA also shows that the LED lamp is one of the most environmentally friendly lighting products.

The life-cycle assessment looks at manufacturing, usage and end of life realities.

An OSRAM study monitored the life cycle of an LED and an LED lamp. It´s outcome made it clear - LED lamps need less than 2% of their energy consumption for their manufacture - over 98% are used for their task: illuminating the world.

Click here for more information about this study.

The aim of OSRAM Opto Semiconductors' LCA is therefore to analyse the environmental impact of an LED lamp over its entire life and to compare it with a compact fluorescent lamp and an incandescent lamp. The relevant material and energy supplies were determined in detail for all the LED lamp's components and production processes. Apart from a detailed analysis of each individual production stage, for LED chips and lamp housings, for example, these also include all necessary transports such as the transport of an LED lamp from its production site in China to its place of installation in Europe.

Apart from direct input of raw materials, the energy input, materials and emissions associated with the retrieval of resources are recorded. The results allow for conclusions not only on resource consumption and primary energy input but also acidification, eutrophication, the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion and toxicity.

The bottom line is that LED are efficient

In the first LCA, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors show that LED lamps are a genuine alternative to incandescent lamps, even when considering the cumulative energy input and environmental factors.

Often these fundamentally different lamps were compared based on their wattage. Conventional lamps with filaments are way behind diode lamps. A 40 Watt incandescent lamp, for example, can either be replaced by an 8W compact fluorescent light or, for some applications, by an 8W LED lamp, which means an energy saving of 80 percent.

In order to guarantee the comparability of results in the LCA, a lifetime of 25,000 hours was chosen as reference. The latest LED lamp generation (Parathom Classic A55 with Golden Dragon Plus LED) achieves precisely this rating. Therefore, 25 incandescent lamps (OSRAM Classic A 40W) with a lifetime of 1,000 hours and 2.5 fluorescent lamps (Dulux Superstar Classic A 8W) lasting 10,000 hours have to be used for a comparison.

Over 98 percent of the energy used to produce light

The study was done in collaboration with experts at Siemens Corporate Technology, Centre for Eco Innovations and shows that similar to compact fluorescent lamps with LED-based lamps over 98% of the energy used is consumed to generate light. Less than two percent is allocated to production. This has dismissed any concern that manufacturing of LED particularly might be very energy-intensive. In contrast to the primary energy consumption of incandescent lamps of around 3,300kWh, LED lamps use less than 700kWh. The bottom line is that LED lamps are therefore definitely more efficient than conventional incandescent lamps. Apart from this, the ratings that indicate the lamps' effects on the environment are consistently better than those for incandescent lamps. As the efficiency of LED continues to increase, LED lamps will be capable of achieving even better LCA results in future. Three independent experts are currently verifying the findings of the internal study.

A summary of the study is available at www.osram-os.com/life-cycle-assessment.


Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

LED Lights Used to Demo Wind Turbine Behavior

Artist Patrick Marold from Denver, Colorado has created 1,000 polycarbonate poles topped by three aluminum cups. When turned by the wind, each powers a small built-in generator attached to an LED that sends light down into the shaft, thereby, displaying the wind's power. This Windmill Project is featured in an exhibition ("Human=Landscape") hosted by Burlington City Arts in conjunction with the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center and the Energy Project Vermont.

 http://energyprojectvt.com/art.htm

This array of "turbines" maps the behavior of wind and allows us to visualize the resource's invisible potential.  

These tiny wind turbines highlight a huge issue that has been spinning throughout Vermont: Should the State capture the wind to generate power or should Vermont avoid building turbines because they will ruin the view of the scenic mountain ridge lines?

This exhibit will be running through November 1, 2009. You can check out (a sampling of the windmills at ECHO's "Wind: Power & Play" showcase.  Get more information at: http://www.echovermont.org/programs/cafesci-topic9.html


Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

More than 4,200 LR24 recessed LED luminaires are planned for installation in Wedge 5 of the Pentagon as part of a major renovation.
In a signing ceremony today at the Pentagon, John J. Kubricky, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Advanced Systems and Concepts, and Albert C. Ellet, acting director of the Washington Headquarters Service responsible for overseeing the renovation, signed an intra-departmental Memorandum of Agreement kicking-off the initiative to install LED lighting in the Pentagon.
 

The Cree LR24 luminaires have undergone extensive government testing and business-case analysis, including a preliminary Pentagon installation to meter the fixtures and compare the results to the alternative fluorescent technology.

This independent analysis demonstrated a 22% reduction in energy usage and improved light quality.

  • The business-case analysis yielded a payback of less than four years.
  • The payback analysis considered energy savings, lifetime maintenance savings, savings from reduced load on the HVAC system, and elimination of hazardous waste disposal fees for mercury-laden fluorescent bulbs.
  • Extensive modeling was also performed to determine optimal lighting design--analyzing the light distribution and spacing to ensure superior lighting and energy efficiency.
  • The Wedge 5 installation is estimated to save 140 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

"The U.S. federal government is taking a leadership role in energy efficiency for federal buildings both through existing mandates, as well as President-elect Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, which calls for the renovation of public buildings to make them more energy efficient," said Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and chief executive officer. "Installations of highly efficient, low-maintenance LED lighting, like these in the Pentagon and in the U.S. Federal Reserve, demonstrate that the future of energy-efficient lighting is here today."

The LR24 units being used for the Pentagon renovation are being purchased from Cree by the Department of Defense's (DoD) Title III program as a part of its ongoing development program with Cree, and provided to the Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), which oversees the Pentagon renovation program.

"The Title III program has long supported the development and deployment of SiC substrates and devices for use in high-power RF and power-switching applications for DoD systems," said John Palmour, Ph.D., Cree co-founder and chief technology officer for advanced devices. "The program realized the importance of ensuring a strong domestic supply of SiC substrates and related devices, and the potential growth of solid-state lighting in the U.S. This Pentagon lighting project is a perfect example of stimulating America's leadership in high-technology manufacturing yielding unique commercial and defense products, while saving energy. Title III funding was also used to develop the technology in Cree's lighting class XLamp® XR-E LED platform--the light source in the LR24 recessed LED luminaire."


Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

LEDs Can Lower Light Energy Usage by 30%

Ruediger Mueller, CEO of Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH, said at the Electronica 2008 exhibition, that LED technology has the potential to lower light energy usage by 30 percent. This means total energy use could be slashed by 50 percent. He estimated that 19 percent of global electricity is used for lightning. The LED technology can help reduce light energy consumption by 30 percent, and by adding some intelligence, it goes to 50 percent.

Mueller noted overall LED efficiency has improved by a factor of 50 percent.

Read More at LEDInside.com


Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

Decorative Light Strings for Beauty and Energy Savings

If all decorative light strings sold in America this year were ENERGY STAR qualified, we would save over 2 billion kWh per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to nearly 300,000 cars!

ENERGY STAR qualified decorative light strings — many which feature LED technology — consume 75% less energy than conventional incandescent lights strands.

Decorative Light Strings


ENERGY STAR Qualified Decorative Light Strings:

  • Can last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent strands.
  • Are cool to the touch, reducing the risk of fire.
  • Do not have moving parts, filaments or glass, so they are much more durable and shock-resistant than other light strings.
  • Are available in a variety of colors, shapes and lengths.
  • Come with a three-year warranty, meaning fewer light string replacements.
  • Are independently tested to meet strict lifetime and electrical requirements.
  • Products labeled for outdoor use are subjected to weathering tests.
  • Some models deliver features such as dimming or color shifting.
When you start shopping or installing your Christmas or Hoiday lighting this year...think ENERGY savings... think

ENERGY STAR rated LED decorative light strings!  You'll save at the same time you brighting your neighborhood!

 

Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

The California Department of Transportation has been involved with the development of LED traffic signal modules for more than a decade. The recent energy crisis played a key role in speeding up the statewide conversion from incandescent lights to LEDs.

The Institute of Transportation Engineer's Future Directions Advisory Committee (FDAC) was appointed to identify and consider the trends and issues facing the Institute and the transportation profession. The FDAC gathered and reviewed information on transportation issues and identified trends:

  • continuing increase in demand for transportation;
    • Population increases and urbanization increase traffic flows
  • traffic congestion;
    • Progarmmable controllers and LED lights can improve communications and monitor/measure and adapt to traffic congestion
  • transportation programs to help meet air quality and energy goals;
    • Think saving energy, reducing greenhouse gases and reducing wasted mileage on the streets
  • greater mix of revenue sources for transportation;
    • Think BLUE LEDs on traffic signals to identify traffic violations!
  • federal government setting the direction for transportation programs;
    • Think funding...and ubiquitious traffic communications for tourism and travelers
  • operations and demand management taking precedence over increasing capacity;
    • Less is better...especially vehicles on the road.  Less oil consumption, less congestion, less accidents, less infrastructure costs...
  • intelligent vehicle highway systems
    • Programmable systems adapt to changing conditions and can even be predictive and take immediate steps to reroute traffic, etc. 


Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

Thermal Management with LED Lighting Applications

Diverting Heat To Cool Things Off

To maintain the extended life of the LED lighting fixture, LEDs need to shed heat that builds inside the fixture. A low junction temperature is key to effective thermal management.

The heat pipe assembly contains heat pipes that move heat away from the LEDs and the circuit board quickly and effectively.

KramerLED uses airflow convection to release warmer air away and circulate cooler air to the LEDs and through the fixture. Through this thermal management design, the fixture is guaranteed to operate at the proper temperatures.


Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

LED Lighting for LEED Green Building Certification

Environmental Advantage for LEEDTM Certification by USGBC

LED lights offer numerous environmental benefits over other types of lighting for today's environmentally-conscious facilities and for buildings working toward LEED certification.

  • Longer life ratings for less waste for landfills
  • Daylight harvesting capabilities with solar power
  • Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHs) compliant
  • No mercury or lead is used in the product

Earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) points by using KramerLED fixtures. See how by reviewing Kramer Lighting's  LED Lighting Systems in Sustainable Building Design brochure.


Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

Anchorage Extends Daylight with LED Street Lights

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich announced his city’s participation n the LED City® program, an international program that promotes the deployment of energy-efficient LED lighting. This initiative is in conjunction with an energy-related effort calling for the retrofit of all 16,000 municipal roadway lights with high-efficiency LED fixtures.

“I am pleased to announce the appropriation of $2.2 million to enable the city to purchase LED fixtures to change out roughly one-quarter of Anchorage’s streetlights,” notes Mayor Begich. “We have studied new lighting technology extensively over the past several months to validate energy and maintenance cost savings. We also conducted a lighting conference and public survey in March of this year that showed our residents overwhelmingly approve of the new white LED lighting. With this feedback and quantified costs savings research in hand, we are confident in moving ahead with the broad deployment of LED lighting for our roadways.”

The continental US has more than eight hours of daylight per day. Here in Anchorage, approximately 85 days a year we see less than eight hours of daylight.

“Lighting is absolutely critical to daily life in Anchorage. The continental US has more than eight hours of daylight per day. Here in Anchorage, approximately 85 days a year see less than eight hours of daylight. It is significant that this community is at the forefront of adopting energy-efficient lighting,” notes Deb Lovig, Cree LED City program manager. “Cree and the other LED Cities welcome Anchorage into the program and look forward to learning from this large-scale installation as the city pushes forward for energy and maintenance savings with LED lighting.”

The LED fixtures from BetaLED are expected to use 50-percent less energy than current streetlights, which could save the city $360,000 annually at today’s energy prices. The LED fixtures, based on performance-leading Cree XLamp LEDs, typically last up to seven times longer than high-pressure sodium fixtures, allowing Anchorage to better utilize maintenance resources.


Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

Despite a slumping economy, new store venue is seen as smart strategy by a lighting store in Fort Myers, FL.

The roughly $3 million building will offer a host of improvements over the current location, including a two-story atrium for grand chandelier displays, light lifts in the ceiling - a motorized apparatus that allows chandeliers to be lowered to eye level - and a customer service area separate from the showroom.

LED Signage Attracts Consumer Traffic

The exterior will be highlighted by a roughly 35-foot-tall electric sign with a 9-foot by 14-foot LED screen that can be used for advertisements and demonstrations.

In response to the downturn, the Bebbers have tightened their credit policies, reduced overhead through such things as cutting energy usage by using fluorescent display lighting and dramatically increased retail advertising. The additional advertising has meant a boost in retail trade over the past year, as has a moving sale that began in January.

Sector Marketing Strategy Shifts to Consumer Remodeling

"We felt a lot of people would keep their money and turn to remodeling and home improvements, so we started marketing to them to try and make up for the lack of the volume-builder business," Chuck Bebber said.

Today, retail customers represent about two-thirds of the store's business, a position commercial customers occupied before the advertising blitz.

<a href="http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080627/BUSINESS/806270357/1014">READ MORE</a>



Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

LUXEON power LEDs from Philips Lumileds are poised to rapidly increase their presence in front-of-vehicle applications with expected European Union regulations mandating daytime running lamps (DRLs) on new cars beginning in 2011.

One of the major factors driving LUXEON use will be the dramatic reduction in DRL power consumption (Watts), on the order of 80%, made possible by energy-efficient LED technology.

Audi and VW currently offer LUXEON-based daytime running lights, and several other carmakers are
preparing to release vehicles with LUXEON-based DRLs over 2008-09 as part of a movement to improve road safety by increasing vehicle visibility during daylight hours.

With the new EU regulations in place, slashing DRL power consumption
by 80% or more compared to

incandescent or halogen bulbs
will be the most important factor for LED adoption.


This energy savings is critical because DRLs built with conventional bulbs consume more power than any other exterior lighting application due to their always-on daylight use, potentially running afoul of today’s fuel economy standards.

A typical DRL solution with incandescent or halogen bulbs uses 40-80 Watts of power. LUXEON-based
DRLs consume 10 Watts of power or less because of the technology’s low power demands and energy
efficiency.

Given these benefits, any new regulation requiring DRLs is expected to drive broader LUXEON adoption for
daytime running lamps as well as other forward automotive lighting applications. Already, LUXEON
technology is lighting the world’s first all-LED headlight on the Audi R8 supercar.

“Today LED DRLs are used on fewer than 1% of vehicles, in part because daytime running lamps are not
required in most countries. If the new regulation by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe moves ahead as expected, it will increase that number dramatically because of the low power usage,
longevity and design flexibility of LEDs compared to conventional light sources,” said Scott Kern, Vice
President, Automotive Sales, for Philips Lumileds. “LUXEON LEDs promise to lead the market because of
their reliability, high quality white light, and proven performance in the automotive industry.”

Over the years, Philips Lumileds has pioneered many automotive exterior lighting applications with its
LUXEON, SuperFlux and SnapLED products. In addition to driving the industry’s first all-LED daytime
running lamp and all-LED headlamp, the company’s solid-state lighting technology has enabled the world’s
first all-LED rear combination lamp, first single-LED stop-tail lamp, first LED front-, rear- and side-mirror
turn signals.


Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

Understanding Power LED Lifetime Analysis

How intuitive graphical data sets help lighting designers accurately predict power LED reliability in different operating environments.


When designing LED-based lighting systems, engineers need to understand LED lumen maintenance and mortality in similar terms to those used when designing with conventional light sources. However, comparable data has been nearly impossible to find. In addition, designers need extra information to predict the lifetime of LEDs under a variety of operating conditions. A number of techniques to predict LED lifetimes have been proposed, but these have not been sufficient to generate the clear and unambiguous data that lighting engineers can use easily. This white paper provides lighting designers with an understanding of a new tool introduced by Philips Lumileds Lighting Company that simplifies the process allowing full flexibility in design options. This one tool provides designers with information that they need to make decisions about product lifetimes, driver constraints, number of LEDs required, and thermal management.

1. Aging and failure modes of lighting sources
2. Established lighting industry definitions of useful life
3. Established LED industry definitions: Lumen maintenance
4. Understanding LED operation and lifetimes
5. Completing the expression for lumen maintenance
6. Designing with B/L data for optimal lighting performance
7. Predicting LED lifetimes

Conclusion
The lighting industry needs LED manufacturers to provide data that is compatible with current design practice. However, this only answers a part of the challenge. LED vendors should also be in a position to provide more detailed information about product lifetimes under various operating conditions. This data allows lighting designers to deliver the best combination of purchase price, lighting performance, and cost of ownership for the life of the product.

From a user’s perspective, this data is most usefully expressed as a combination of B- and Llifetime as junction temperature and forward current are varied. This allows the system designer to make intelligent choices about the number of LEDs required, how they are driven, and the operating temperature.

Every power LED customer should therefore expect their supplier to provide this data as a matter of course, in any combination of B, L, Tj and If values, with clear definitions of failures (e.g. lumen maintenance below specified condition, electrical failures).


Download the PDF report "Understanding Power LED Lifetime Analysis"

Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

SYLVANIA LED lighting products are rated by several certification agencies to provide customers with choice to meet their commercial and residential lighting needs, requirements and prerequisites for green building rating systems.

Three widely recognized lighting quality and application systems are listed below.  Sylvania products are regularly submitted for these kinds of certification and compliance programs.  Check their website for specific technical informatino.
 


One of the major initiatives of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) Program. According to the USGBC’s website www.usgbc.org, LEED™ was created to:

  • define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement
  • promote integrated, whole-building design practices
  • recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
  • stimulate green competition
  • raise consumer awareness of green building

LEED promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.

SYLVANIA products have been installed in several LEED-certified buildings to help customers meet the prerequisites and criteria for the various LEED rating systems



Green Globes is an online building and management environmental audit.

Green Globes helps property owners and architects design a building that will be energy and resource efficient, will achieve operational savings and be healthier to work or live in.

It helps property owners and managers measure the environmental performance of their buildings against best practices in areas such as energy, water, hazardous materials, waste management and indoor environment. Using a confidential questionnaire, it generates an online report. Green Globes is only applicable to existing buildings.

Property owners can use the Green Globes Design tool as either a guide for integrating green design principles into their facilities, or as an assessment protocol. Using confidential questionnaires for each stage of project delivery, the program generates comprehensive on-line assessment and guidance reports.



The US Environmental Protection Agency developed ENERGY STAR Buildings to help businesses reduce pollution associated with building construction and operation, while enhancing their financial value.

Focusing on energy performance and indoor environmental quality components of a building, this initiative can stand alone or be incorporated into other green buildings guidelines.

ENERGY STAR Buildings targets all types of new and existing commercial buildings typically larger than 5,000 square feet, and compares energy performance to the performance of other similar buildings, rather than to code.

A building with an energy performance score of 75 or higher (on a scale of 1-100), using the ENERGY STAR Buildings Benchmarking Tool is awarded the ENERGY STAR label.


OSRAM SYLVANIA
North American Headquarters
100 Endicott Street
Danvers, MA 01923
USA
Phone: 978-777-1900
Fax: 978-750-2152

http://www.sylvania.com

National Customer Service and Sales Center: U.S.A.  
(For lighting products only)
General Lighting: 1-800-LIGHTBULB (1-800-544-4828)
Automotive Lighting: 1-800-347-3420
Electronic Control Systems (ECS): 1-800-654-0089



Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com

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 Corporation
Lighting 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.
Green Directory: SolutionsForGreen.com ~ Certification Programs: GreenJobWizard.com



Categories