Industry Leaders Integrate LED Products and Controls for Maximum Energy Efficiency

The growing demand for energy-efficient LED lighting solutions combined with increasingly stringent energy and building codes require an advanced level of lighting and control integration.  Cree, Inc. announces a first-of-its-kind agreement with Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. to embed Lutron EcoSystem® technology on a chip in Cree® luminaires to accelerate LED adoption and increase energy efficiency for building designers, contractors and owners.
 
The combination of industry-leading LED technology from Cree with proven energy control strategies from Lutron yields the world’s most energy-efficient commercial troffer lighting control and delivery system. The solution introduces digital intelligence to the control of Cree LED luminaires and delivers integrated, pre-tested system compatibility that is backed by the Lutron Services Company to ensure performance of the system as a whole.
 
“With this alliance, we set out to fix a problem. It breaks new ground for LED fixtures and control systems—turning compatibility into a feature, not a challenge,” said Gary Trott, vice president of market development, Cree lighting. “An integrated system can increase performance across the board – efficiency, lifetime and payback – it just works.”
 
By using Lutron energy management solutions, Cree LED lighting can significantly reduce building owners operating costs and continue to deliver the fastest payback in the industry. Cree LED fixtures are an ideal match for embedded Lutron EcoSystem technology because digital control and dimming of LED fixtures can significantly extend LED lifetime, and also allow flexibility to reconfigure and improve occupant experience in any space.
 
“Working with Cree, we’re able to expand our system networks by combining their innovation and leadership in the LED arena with our 50-year history as a leader in light control and total building solutions,” said Eric Lind, vice president of global specifications at Lutron. “This capability of enabling Lutron EcoSystem technology by embedding a chip into the driver of an LED luminaire eliminates concerns about system compatibility, brings digital intelligence to the control of LEDs, and showcases Lutron’s open networks. Lutron EcoSystem controls have the ability to directly connect to Lutron’s complete line of wired and wireless systems as well as other building protocols, such as BACnet, to allow seamless control and energy saving capability for our customers.”
 
“Cree's ability to work seamlessly with our installed Lutron EcoSystem controls was instrumental in our choice of LED lighting,” said Dr. Mitchel Rosen, chief technology officer, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia."
 
According to Cree analysis, Cree CR Troffers equipped with Lutron EcoSystem technology can increase luminaire lifetime up to 50 percent and substantially increase lumen maintenance factors. This calculation is for typical buildings with Lutron lighting control systems, where the average output level of troffers is around 70 percent when typical lighting efficiency strategies such as daylight harvesting, personal control and high-end trim are used.
 
The first products to feature embedded Lutron EcoSystem technology are the Cree CR Series of LED troffers with other products to follow. Cree LED fixtures embedded with Lutron EcoSystem technology are scheduled for specification and shipment in summer 2012.