10 September 2013

Cree LEDs light NASA HQ

LED chip, lamp and lighting fixture maker Cree Inc of Durham, NC, USA says that the 600,000 square-foot headquarters of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been fitted with energy-saving Cree CR Series LED Troffers.

More than 1,300 Cree CR22 architectural LED troffers have been installed, and Piedmont Office Realty Trust, owners of the NASA headquarters building, expects the new fixtures to deliver energy savings of 52% over the previously installed T8 fluorescent fixtures. An additional 5,200 Cree CR22 troffers are planned to complete the lighting upgrade, says the firm.

“We originally considered replacing the existing T8 fluorescent tubes with T5 fluorescents, but after testing Cree’s CR22 LED troffer, we knew it was the best solution for this installation,” said Tony Roberts, senior chief engineer supporting Piedmont Office Realty Trust. “No other manufacturer offered the combination of performance, pricing and efficacy we desired. We continue to be impressed by the improved lighting quality and significant savings the CR22 troffers provide.”

Featuring Cree’s TrueWhite Technology, Cree linear luminaires enabled Piedmont Office Realty Trust to reduce the fixture count by 10%, adding to the overall savings. Designed to last for more than 50,000 hours, twice the lifetime of comparable linear fluorescents, the new fixtures are designed to reduce maintenance and operational costs for the headquarters.

The CR22 troffers feature integrated Lutron EcoSystem dimming technology, and the system is controlled by a Lutron Quantum lighting control system, offering the ability to fine-tune light levels individually in each fixture.

“The CR Series is a no-compromise alternative to fluorescent lighting and demonstrates our commitment to driving the broad adoption of LED lighting,” said Mike Bauer, vice president of lighting sales, Cree. “The successful integration of CR troffers with digital controls and dimming allows Cree to further the obsolescence of antiquated fluorescent lighting. Optimal lighting is essential to workplace environments like NASA’s headquarters. Cree linear luminaires deliver unrivaled performance, making the decision to choose LED lighting over fluorescent options an obvious choice.”

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