New Cree LED troffers revolutionize commercial lighting

LIGHTFAIR International 2011, DURHAM, USA: Antiquated, inferior commercial lighting gets a much-needed transformation with the revolutionary new series of LED troffers from Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE). The Cree CR family of architectural troffers, including the CR24, CR14 and CR22, bring a superior combination of performance, aesthetics and affordability to a market traditionally lit by outdated, flickering fluorescent tubes.

The CR series is redefining commercial lighting by offering a no-compromise alternative when upgrading over fluorescent lighting. More affordable than comparable fluorescent options, CR series fixtures deliver higher-quality light, longer life and greater energy savings, with an estimated payback of less than a year in a typical office installation*.

“We chose the Cree CR troffers because the payback calculation was clear,” said Richard J. Michal, PE, MBA, LEED-AP, facilities engineer planning design and construction, Butler University. “Seeing the CR troffers installed, they have an elegant aesthetic that produces an incredibly high-quality light. When you combine that with our predicted energy and maintenance savings, it was a no-brainer.”

“You never need to install fluorescent troffer lighting again,” said Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and CEO. “The traditional lighting experts keep telling us what LEDs can’t do, and we keep showing them that anything is possible. We think it is time to rid the world of the compromises inherent in choosing fluorescent lighting — the flickering, toxic mercury, poor color, ineffective dimming and disposal expense.”

“Our life cycle cost analysis using Cree LED lighting on our projects decreased the watts-per-square-foot by upwards of 60 percent,” said Nick Santore, PE, LEED-AP, Senior Electrical Engineer at O’Brien/Atkins Associates. “That decrease translated into measurable reductions in building HVAC equipment sizing requirements, delivering additional savings.”

According to Freedonia Group, the 2009 US indoor lighting fixture market is estimated at US $6.4 billion. Lighting represents 27 percent of American commercial building energy consumption, according to the US Department of Energy.

The Cree CR troffer family is powered by Cree TrueWhite Technology to deliver an unprecedented combination of 90 CRI and up to 110 lumens per watt, far outperforming any other current lighting options.

An innovative thermal management system enables the LEDs to consistently run cooler, providing significant boosts to lifetime, efficacy and color consistency. All fixtures feature step or 0-10V dimming, are designed to last at least 50,000 hours and feature a five-year warranty.

The CR troffer family includes three models and multiple performance options: 1ft x 4 ft, 2ft x 4ft and 2ft x 2ft. The Cree CR series is made in the United States, sold through Cree LED Lighting sales channels and is currently shipping in volume.

*Payback calculations compare the Cree CR24 LED troffer with an architectural 2-tube T8 fluorescent fixture of comparable light output and features. The calculations also assume a typical office space of 200 units, 12-hour per day usage, $.10 kWh energy costs, lighting-related HVAC impact, and relamp maintenance. This results in a payback of less than one year when upgrading to more efficient CR series lighting from Cree.