The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters, a leased facility in Washington, D.C., has been outfitted with energy-saving CR Series LED Troffers by Cree, Inc. The high-performance LED installation is part of a renovation to maximize energy savings of the 600,000 square-foot building. 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 percent over the previously installed T8 fluorescent fixtures. An additional 5,200 Cree® CR22 troffers are planned to complete the lighting upgrade.

“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.”

Cree linear luminaires enabled Piedmont Office Realty Trust to reduce the fixture count by 10 percent, 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. The system is controlled by a Lutron Quantum® lighting control system, which provides the flexibility needed to reconfigure and improve the occupant experience in any space and can extend LED lifetime. The ability to fine-tune light levels individually in each fixture, and ultimately to achieve the perfect lighting environment, is the result of an ideal marriage between the Cree luminaires and Lutron digital control technology.

“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.”