DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 28, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq:CREE) has the most lighting-class LEDs meeting the stringent U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ENERGY STAR(R) performance criteria, offering fixture manufacturers a significant benefit when designing with XLamp(R) XR-E, XP-E or MC-E white LEDs.
The DOE's "ENERGY STAR Manufacturer's Guide for Qualifying Solid-State Lighting Luminaires" requires that LED fixture manufacturers seeking ENERGY STAR Category A approval test their luminaires for a minimum of 6,000 hours (approximately nine months) to demonstrate the product's long-term lumen maintenance. In lieu of performing this lengthy and costly testing, the DOE will accept an LED manufacturer's lumen maintenance data if the LEDs are tested to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) approved method for "Measuring Lumen Maintenance of LED Light Sources," LM-80-08.
The DOE accepts Cree's IES LM-80 test data for the Cree XLamp XR-E, XP-E and MC-E LEDs. This LM-80 test data can be submitted by luminaire manufacturers (along with the appropriate LM-79 optical and electrical data) to the DOE for ENERGY STAR approval of both 25,000-hour residential and 35,000-hour commercial lighting products.
"Cree has the broadest family of lighting-class LEDs accepted by the DOE for use in ENERGY STAR products," said Paul Thieken, Cree director of marketing, LED components. "Our customers can avoid expensive and prolonged fixture testing by designing-in XLamp XR-E, XP-E or MC-E LEDs. Cree XLamp LEDs were also the first to be binned to ANSI C78.377A chromaticity back in 2007 and feature excellent white-point stability-further simplifying the design of LED fixtures to meet ENERGY STAR requirements."
Further information on Cree's LM-80 testing methodology can be found in the recently published Lumen Maintenance Application Note, available at www.cree.com/LM80. In addition, Cree's lighting-class XLamp XP LEDs became UL-recognized on August 4, 2009 (registration file OOQA2.E326295). Due to the glass lens, Cree's XLamp XR family and MC-E LEDs, are considered enclosures by UL and do not require registration.
About Cree
Cree is leading the LED lighting revolution and setting the stage to obsolete the incandescent light bulb through the use of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly LED lighting. Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, LED lighting, and semiconductor solutions for wireless and power applications.
Cree's product families include LED fixtures and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices. Cree solutions are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, backlighting, electronic signs and signals, variable-speed motors, and wireless communications.
For additional product and company information, please refer to www.cree.com
The testing results do not constitute a warranty. For product specifications and warranties, please refer to the applicable product data sheets and Cree's sales terms and conditions available at www.cree.com.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including customer acceptance of LED products; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Cree's products obsolete; and other factors discussed in Cree's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 28, 2009, and subsequent filings.
Cree and XLamp are registered trademarks of Cree, Inc.
ENERGY STAR is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency