Cree has expanded its $1.5 million commitment to provide LED lighting for new Habitat for Humanity homes built in the United States. Building on the company’s 2010 pledge to provide Cree^® LED downlights, Cree is now offering Habitat for Humanity affiliates the New Cree LED Bulb, making whole-home LED lighting possible for Habitat homeowners.

“As part of our mission to drive 100 percent adoption of energy-efficient LED lighting, Cree’s goal has always been to deliver LED solutions that save energy and fundamentally improve the overall lighting environment,” said Betty Noonan, Cree chief marketing officer. “The addition of the Cree^® LED Bulb portfolio to our collaboration further supports Habitat’s efforts to create affordable, sustainable homes, while enabling homeowners to greatly reduce their energy usage for decades without sacrificing the light quality.”

Since 2010, more than 3,000 new Habitat homes used the Cree ENERGY STAR^® qualified CR6^™ downlights, designed to last for 50,000 hours while consuming 85 percent less energy than incandescent downlights. The New Cree LED Bulb 60-watt replacement looks like an incandescent bulb, emitting warm, omnidirectional light and is designed to use 85 percent less energy over a 25,000-hour lifetime.

“We are grateful to partner with companies like Cree that are helping Habitat serve families in need of affordable housing through product donations that can lower homeowners’ daily living expenses,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International. “Extending Cree’s current commitment to include the Cree^® LED Bulb furthers our efforts to build sustainable communities across the country.”