LED Lights Save Energy for Atlanta and Your Home

Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), a U.S.-based leader in Light Emitting Diode (LED) solid-state lighting components, and the City of Raleigh, NC,  have formed a joint initiative to test, deploy and promote LED lighting technology. The “LED City” initiative is designed to create a “living laboratory” to deliver the economic, environmental and usage benefits of LED lighting to the residents of Raleigh. 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, including garage and parking lot lights, street lights, architectural and accent lighting, portable lighting and pedestrian and walkway lighting over the next 18 months.

LEDs are one of the world’s most energy efficient light sources and the newest models deliver approximately 70 lumens per watt, using approximately 17% and 50% of the energy consumption of incandescent and compact fluorescent (CFL) lamps, respectively. The LED's, with a lifetime of over 50,000 hours, last more than 20 times longer than incandescent and 5 times longer than CFL bulbs, which lowers maintenance costs. Cree's LEDs are now used in products for residential as well as commercial and industrial use.

Cree claims their advantage is in the materials they use. Cree LEDs combine highly efficient InGaN materials with proprietary G•SIC® substrates that they claim deliver superior price/performance for high-intensity LEDs.Their LED's are claimed to handle more power in a smaller space while producing less heat than other available technologies, materials and products.

The first project in Raleigh 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. Cree, the City of Raleigh and Lighting Science Group Corporation (OTCBB: LSGP) of Dallas, TX, announced initial results of this project. LED-based lighting fixtures were installed in the Raleigh Municipal Building parking deck in December 2006; the floor equipped with LED lights uses over 40 percent less energy than the standard lighting system and the quality of light in the garage is greatly improved. It's expected the energy savings will result in a payback of about three years, even though the lights cost far more than conventional fixtures.

“The economic benefits for municipalities to invest in LEDs are clear – they save energy, reduce environmental impact and improve the quality of light.” stated Charles Meeker, Raleigh mayor. “We believe that the cost savings and benefits of LED lighting are real and achievable today.”

“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” commented Kateri Callahan, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance to Save Energy (ASE).

LED Lighting Fixtures Inc. (LLF) produces, available late spring 2007, a six-inch down light for residential and commercial markets using XLamp XR-E power LEDs from Cree. LED technology generates light in a new way and LLF’s product is the first LED recessed down light to deliver approximately 650 lumens from a fixture at 10-12 watts. The product also features excellent color rendering, can to be used in a standard six inch recessed housing and it is dimmable.

Neal Hunter, LLF’s CEO, stated, “Our introduction of a viable LED product for general illumination will have historic implications for the lighting industry. This is the first lighting fixture to rival the output, appearance and lighting quality of a 65 watt incandescent product while offering a justifiable cost of ownership. We believe LED lighting for the mainstream has finally been enabled and LLF has invented a way. This unprecedented technology will not only change the industry, but also reshape the way the average consumer views lighting.”

Approximately 22 percent of the electricity consumed in the United States goes toward lighting, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. If 25 percent of the lightbulbs in the United States were converted to LEDs putting out 70 lumens per watt, the country as a whole could save $55 billion in utility costs, cumulatively, by 2025. That would alleviate the need to build 65 new coal-burning power stations. Future LEDs are expected to have twice the efficiency lumens per watt doubling these savings. This is one of the easiest ways to save energy, why don't we see more efforts in this direction?

Thanks to Tyler at Clean Break for the tip.

Comments

[donb]

I do applaud Cree's work in LED lighting.

However, I have a 30 year old Westinghouse Lighting Handbook that indicates that fluorescent lamps (e.g., 4 foot long tubes) back then had equal or better efficiency than these LEDs, even allowing for 20% energy loss in the ballast. I am sure lamp efficiency has improved since then, especially when run from electronic ballasts, and ballast losses have dropped as well.

High pressure sodium lamps used for lighting roadways and parking lots are nearly twice as efficient as fluorescent lamps.

The equal or higher efficiency of readily available, lower cost conventional lighting is why LED lighting has not yet taken the world by storm. But there is still a lot of room for efficiency improvements on LEDs.

[Doug]

Excellent point Don. I look around most offices and they're already using fluorescent tubes for lighting. So, assuming modern tubes are no worse than 30-year-old versions, a lot of that electricity used for lighting isn't going to be saved by switching to these LEDs. Still, at home these industrial light sources aren't viable, so that's where LEDs will help the most. It would be interesting to know what fraction of the electricity pie goes to home lighting needs.

[Harvey D.]

The florescent twisted mini soft white lamps we're using also produce 69 lumens/watt and uses 70% less electricity than normal incadescent lamps (manufacturer claims.

The cost of the mini-florescent are less than 1/10 that of equivalent LED units.

However, since LEDs last 10 times longer.... the total life duration cost may be almost the same, if you're around long enough (60+ years of normal home use versus about 6+ years for the mini florescents)

[Mike@HCVN]

Just Googling around, I found some 8 foot fluorescent bulb specs:

7,650 lumen, 110 W = 69.5 l/W here, but CRI = 62 = BAD!
5,800 lumen, 110 W = 52.7 l/W here, and CRI = 84 = Good
6,225 lumen, 75 W = 83 l/W here, and CRI = 84 = Good

The Cree datasheets don't quantify the CRI, so it's hard to compare that element of it.

Mike

[JJ]

What's a CRI?

[Stephen Boulet]

A CRI of 92 is mentioned in the press release:
http://www.ledlightingfixtures.com/pr_020707.pdf

"""
Lighting Fixtures Inc. (LLF) today
announced its first product, a six-inch down light for residential and commercial markets. LED technology generates light in a new way and LLF’s product is the first LED recessed down light to deliver approximately 650 lumens from a fixture at 10-12 watts
(approximately 60 lumens per watt). The product also features excellent color rendering, (CRI of 92), a unique installation mechanism that allows it to be used in a standard six inch recessed housing and it is dimmable. The down light will be available in two color temperatures, 2700K and 3500K, for warm and cool white applications. LLF will begin shipping these products in the second quarter of 2007.
"""

Looks very good. I've put a reminder to myself to look into this in late spring. I'll definitely keep it in mind when we renovate. It's interesting that they see recessed lighting as the first place to enter the market for general household lighting.

Stephen

Oh, CRI is color-rendering index. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_rendering_index

[Reality Czech]

Future LEDs are expected to have twice the efficiency, doubling these savings.

Twice the efficiency does not double savings.  If you improve efficiency from 5% to 25%, you cut energy requirements by 80%; a further doubling from 25% to 50% efficiency only adds another 10% savings over the original.

[Jim from The Energy Blog]

Sorry, I goofed, I meant to say they expect to double the output per watt, not double the effiency. The post has been corrected.

[scott]

Owning commerical realestate,one of the biggest costs of the lighting is the labor required to change them when they burn out and the loss of light output as the bulbs age. I personally hate to change out the flourscent tubes. So while the LED lighting costs may be higher initially, there are many other savings factors to consider, including the upkeep and maintenance as well as the energy needed to cool the rooms using conventional lighting. A flourscent fixture can be quite warm

[Rod]

Its a very exciting time for LEDs lighting. In addition, to Cree's 70 lumen/watt in commercial products they have demonstrated 130 lumen/watt in lab prototypes. The current generation of Cree LEDs produce 130-140 lumens using 3 watts. There are already flashlights from multiple vendors using these chips.

Lumileds have also announced 100+ lumen per watt lights that are more linear in the amount of light they produce with increased power.

The amount of power in white light at 250 lumens is roughtly 1 watt, so the vendors are only a few generations of products away from this, assuming the current pace continues. I'm waiting for 3w LEDs to replace 20w halogens, 3 X 130 lumens/watt = 400 lumen halogen.

A good place to follow latest product releases and highest lumen/watt press releases is:

http://members.misty.com/don/led.html

for commercial lighting LED assemblies:

http://www.solidstatelightingdesign.com/news/

[Harvey D.]

LEDs have a bright future.

It seems that Nichia (Japan) will have a 150 lumens/watt white LED by spring 2007 and a 200 lumens/watt by mid 2008. Others will follow.

Pakaging has to be improved and diversified, cost has to be lowered ten folds, from current $0.075+/lumen to less than $0.0075/lumen to compete with domestic type mini-florescents. This should happen within about 3 to 5 years.

Inherent ruggedness and multi-colors + extra long life make LEDs attractive for commercial and industrial applications (parking garages, street signal lights, vehicle break and park lights etc) at the current high price and much more so in a few years when price tumbles down and efficiency keeps going up. Many other applications will follow.

In 2003, about 25% of the electricity used in USA and Canada was for lighting. Imaging what billions of 200 lumens/watt LED could do.

[SamuM]

Research labs have "announced" 150 lumen/watt leds.

These are NOT the same as commercial production LEDs that are still trailing (@ 2/2007) at 50-80 lumen/watt.

Further, that commercial led lighting efficacy is not the actual system efficacy for LED lights. Currently the best fixtures operate at c. 75% efficiency making best LED lamps (80 lumen/watt) come down to 56 lumen/watt total system efficacy.

And that's just the BEST version, which is outrageously expensive.

So, while the future of LED lights does indeed look very bright and the technology is constantly improving, we are still a few years off from total revolution.

We need the 150-200 lumen/watt LEDs go to mass production at a cheap price.

We need fixtures to improve.

We need several suppliers and price competition.

Then we can start dreaming about replacing all the billions of incandescent and compact-fluorescent lights out there, which have a huge installed base and a differing fixture infrastructure (compared to that of an optimal LED fixture infra).

So, it's not all fine and dandy. Lots of work to be done still.

And do NOT believe all the crap you read from these companies. The press kits are written by economists with no training in physics (and usually very little understanding of the value of truthfulness).

cheers,
Samu

PS As for CRI, for any critical color work you can basically forget about any source with less than 96 CRI. And for true luminous power (for humans), one should not decide illumination based on photopic lumen/watt, but on scotopic lumen/watt. This on the other hand throws the cheapest LEDs down to the dirt-pile again, because their true luminous quantity for human viewers is MUCH worse than that of best full-spectrum CFLs, which have much better spectral distribution and thus, much better scotopic luminous power.

[Amy Falzone]

I work for a Local Atlanta Distribution Company for CREE LEDs. Please contact us with your LED needs:

LED Lighting Supply is the distributor for Cree XLamp products for Eastern USA, Eastern Canada and Mexico. In addition to supplying XLamp, LED Lighting Supply can help with your selection of PCB, secondary optics, drivers, etc. as well as reflow soldering and LED handling. If you wish we will quote on a complete assembly of your design. Our job is to help you achieve a complete solution using Cree XLamp LEDs. Cree XLamp documentation and more is available at www.LEDLightingSupply.com for your review.

[Dave]

Hi all! I have read with great interest the opinions of contributors to this blog. Frankly, I am amazed that the real possibility exists that when it comes to commercial and industrial lighting, many of us are simply "missing the boat". Much has been written regarding LED and fluorescent lighting. However, little if any, has been noted regarding a real,viable, and currently available alternative to conventional (high pressure), fluorescent, and high output LED's for commercial and industrial lighting. Have you heard about magnetic induction lighting?

Well, it is real and induction lighting is a viable alternative. Some of the highlights of the capabilities of induction lighting lamps and fixtures are utterly amazing. The induction lamps, ranging from 40w to 400watts, 1.) have an average rated life of 100,000 hours, 2.) are flicker-free and are "instant on/off", 3.)are low EMI rated and comply with FCC standards, 4.)operate at 5200K which equates to a Color Rendition Index (CRI) of 94, 5.)are currently available at 100 lumens per watt and the next generation (undergoing testing) of induction lamps are currently producing 110+ lumens per watt, 6.)the temperature operating range of induction lamps range -30 degrees C to +90 degrees Celsius, 7.) are UL tested and approved, 8.) are EPAct 2005 compliant and can reduce electrical usage, when compared to conventional metal halide commercial and industrial lamps/fixtures, from 50% to 60% which qualifies induction fixtures for the Energy Tax Credit of $.60 per square foot of lighted area (the maximum possible for lighting)and, most importantly, 9.)utilize a 100% solid-state electronic generator (ballast) and are very friendly to the environment by not posing issues with hazardous waste, and 10.)are warranteed by the manufacturer (Efficiency Fixture Corp., Inc., Redlands, CA) for ten years.

Sound interesting to you? It sure does to me!

Induction lamps are "electrodeless" high-efficiency and hermetically sealed lighting that easily either outperform or outlast metal halides, fluorescent, and/or LED commercial and industrial lamps and fixtures. Induction lamps maintain 85% of their output/lumens over 90% of the 100,000 hours of their average rated life. Total life-cycle savings approach 60%, or approximately $2,000 for a single commercial induction lighting high-bay fixture. The savings in labor associated with maintenance and upkeep of conventional lighting systems can be incredible. Induction lighting is a great value. The return on investment (without incentives) from electrical savings alone is approximately thirteen months. EPAct 2005 provides for a tax credit which, when utilized to replace conventional high pressure lighting systems, can pay for a complete replacement of metal halides with induction lighting fixtures.

Now do you understand what I mean when I say that many of us may simply be "missing the boat" on energy-efficient commercial and industrial lighting? ? ?

Phillips Osram, Sylvania, and Adaptive Energy Systems (Los Angeles), all have induction lighting products.

Check it out for yourself, visit the manufacturer's website: efixture.com to view their commercial products. These are the folks that have the ten-year warranty on their induction lamps and fixtures. For pricing, send an email to: info@solinductionlighting.com, they are exclusive distributors of Efficiency Fixture Corporation, Inc., products.

Thanks for all, and please feel free to give me some constructive feedback. I look forward to responding to your questions.

Dave

[Dave]

Regarding the above blog which I submitted on April 15, please be advised that I gave you the incorrect web site for Efficiency Fixture Corp., Inc. in Redlands, CA. Their correct web address is: efixturecorp.com

The email address for one of their exclusive distributors and price information is: info@solinductionlighting.com

Thanks again, Dave

[Gig]

Do you think LED lighting is really efficient and save energy? I think all LED lighting companies such as http://www.lunaraccents.com try to target it in the different way. The idea is LED lighting last longer than the regular kind of lighting. That is the best way to target this kind o lighting but the price is also higher. If we really compare for long term using. We spend about the same amount of money. The only good thing is to save us time for replacement and have a better color!

[Geoff Ling]

As of June 2007, the most efficient power LEDs on the market have about the same efficiacy as compact fluorescent lamps, when the total luminaire efficiency is considered. However, LEDs are expected to surpass compact fluorescent before the end of the year.

In the meantime, LEDs have several other advantages: (a) much longer life, (b) more compact form factor allowing innovative fixture designs, (c) better compatibility with occupancy sensors (LEDs don't mind frequent on-off cycling), and (d) no mercury. Stay tuned!

[Geoff Ling]

As of June 2007, the most efficient power LEDs on the market have about the same efficiacy as compact fluorescent lamps, when the total luminaire efficiency is considered. However, LEDs are expected to surpass compact fluorescent before the end of the year.

In the meantime, LEDs have several other advantages: (a) much longer life, (b) more compact form factor allowing innovative fixture designs, (c) better compatibility with occupancy sensors (LEDs don't mind frequent on-off cycling), and (d) no mercury. Stay tuned!

[amazingdrx]

Third try at this post....

Yep that on/off sensor feature is great! Automatic light on/off would allow most lighting to operate on solar power alone.

Flourescents take extra power in the turn on phase negating the possibility of saving energy with very frequent on/off cycling. LEDs do not have that problem.

Imagine you office or home lights, or even lights at a huge store or factory that is open 24 hours only turning on to illuminate the room or area with a human eye in need of light. That would be a huge energy savings.

The lights at big box stores on/off sensor LEDs on the shelf, instead of giant bulbs glaring down 24/7 from the cavernous ceilings. pretty signifigant savings for the Walmarts of this world. And GHG savings for the climate.

Another thought. walmart, the newly green conscious Walmart, is the main sales push behind compact flourescents. Could they do the same for human proximity sensing auto on/off LEDs? Make them plugin to wall sockets or existing lamp fixtures.

Use them in their own stores on their shelves and mass produce them to bring the cost down to consumers? And make a few more billion doing it? Yep.

Call me walmart if you need a consultant on this, and solar panels and batteries and utility net metering inverters and small wind systems that mount on roofs and telephone poles and electric cars and bikes and motorcycles with small backup generators... I work from home or wifi! hehehey.

[EnergyGuy]

If anyone is interested I came across a site that sells LED Lighting. This seems to be the way that lighting will eventually go.
www.lumenstarled.com

[EnergyGuy]

If anyone is interested I came across a site that sells LED Lighting. This seems to be the way that lighting will eventually go.
www.lumenstarled.com

[EnergyGuy]

If anyone is interested I came across a site that sells LED Lighting. This seems to be the way that lighting will eventually go.
www.lumenstarled.com

[EnergyGuy]

If anyone is interested I came across a site that sells LED Lighting. This seems to be the way that lighting will eventually go.
www.lumenstarled.com

[EnergyGuy]

If anyone is interested I came across a site that sells LED Lighting. This seems to be the way that lighting will eventually go.
www.lumenstarled.com

[Phillip]

see the difference between the HPS street lamp and the INDUCTION LAMPS IN THE DEALERSHIP. LOOK AT THE NIGHT COLOR RENDITION- EFIXTURECORP.COM