Cree Announces LED University Program to Promote and Deploy LED Lighting Technology

Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), a leader in LED (light-emitting diode) lighting, announces the launch of the LED University™ program, an international community of universities working to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient LEDs. In addition to evaluating, promoting and deploying LED lighting, the community of universities plans to work toward increasing energy savings, protecting the environment, reducing maintenance costs and providing a better light quality for improved visibility and safety.

Inaugural participant North Carolina State University along with Marquette University, University of California at Santa Barbara, University of Arkansas and Tianjin Polytechnic University in China have committed to evaluating and deploying LED lighting in areas such as offices, dormitories, parking garages, walkway lighting and streets across their campus infrastructures.

Each of the participating universities is conducting LED lighting pilots to determine the cost and environmental benefits of switching to LED lighting in campus applications.

Initial installations include:
• NC State University installed LED recessed can lighting from Cree in the chancellor’s office and a dormitory, and is installing LED parking garage lighting from BetaLED.
• Marquette University installed LED T8 replacements from LED Dynamics in the vice president for administration’s office and is installing LED recessed and task lighting.
• U.C. Santa Barbara installed 23 LED streetlights from BetaLED on a campus street and reports that compared to its traditional streetlights, it is achieving a 44 percent reduction in energy use as well as better light distribution and color rendition.
• University of Arkansas has installed the first set of what it plans will be approximately 1,700 recessed LED lights from Cree in university buildings, starting with lighting the chancellor’s residence.
• Tianjin Polytechnic University installed 1,500 LED streetlights designed by its graduate students on the campus’ main roadway.

“Our commitment to become the first university in Cree’s LED University initiative marks an important milestone for NC State University. Part of our mission is to develop and implement real-world solutions that have global impact,” said James Oblinger, chancellor of North Carolina State University. “NC State has a strong heritage in energy research and conservation – including LED research. We are proud to note that Cree was founded by NC State graduates based on research work conducted in our engineering labs. It’s the basis for our commitment to this partnership. By joining the LED University initiative, we are making a long-term investment in an energy efficient future for NC State.”

“As a Catholic, Jesuit university, stewardship of the earth’s natural resources is an important part of our mission. By participating in the LED University initiative, we’re able to develop and share research on new lighting technology, helping Marquette and other universities throughout the world contribute to a more energy-efficient future,” said Art Scheuber, vice president for administration at Marquette.

“The University of Arkansas is pleased to participate in the LED University program. Our LED lighting applications are environmentally friendly, energy efficient, they provide high quality light, and are expected to reduce maintenance costs,” said Nick Brown, Ph.D., executive assistant for Sustainability at University of Arkansas. “Outfitting our new buildings with LED is one of many steps that we are taking to make our campus sustainable and energy efficient. We look forward to adopting this technology widely across our campus, in both indoor and exterior applications.”

“Both the university administration and student body are especially interested in advancing the use of LED lighting at our university and beyond,” said Pingjuan Niu, Ph.D., Tianjin Polytechnic University professor. “Lighting is a significant energy drain worldwide and if we can significantly reduce the amount of energy used for lighting, we will make a dramatic contribution to protecting our resources and environment. Tianjin Polytechnic University is proud to be among the first to join this important lighting and energy conservation initiative.”