Quick Update: Cree LED

This just in. The Department of Energy recognized Cree’s LED recessed can lights as the first and only to exceed Energy Star requirements—beating out 54 competing products. From the press release:

DURHAM, N.C., SEPTEMBER 16, 2008—Cree, Inc., a market leader in LED lighting, has again won the top prize for recessed down lights in the 2008 Lighting for Tomorrow solid-state lighting (SSL) competition. The complete Cree LED lighting family has now been recognized for superior efficacy and design by this contest, organized by the American Lighting Association, the U.S. Department of Energy (represented by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), and the Consortium of Energy Efficiency.

The Cree LR4 recessed architectural LED down light won the top prize for LED recessed down lights. Entrants in this category must meet the U.S. Department of Energy’s solid-state lighting Energy Star criteria, slated to go into effect later this year. Selected from 56 entrants, the LR4 underwent independent laboratory testing, under the direction of the U.S. Department of Energy, as part of the award selection. It was praised for "superior energy efficiency and color quality" by the judges.

The Cree LR24, a 24-inch square recessed LED light, was honored for superior efficacy in the "Other Applications" category, reserved for general illumination products not covered by Energy Star that exceed device efficacy of 50 lumens per watt. The LR24, targeted for availability this fall, is designed for use in suspended ceilings and features the same beautiful color rendering, long lifetime and best-in-class efficacy as the other Cree LED lights.

Cree’s LED lighting innovation has been praised with numerous other awards including a prestigious 2008 silver International Design Excellence Award (IDEA), a 2008 PCBC Cool Product designation, and BuildingGreen’s Top 10 Green Building Products for 2007.