The U.S. Pentagon plans to install more than 4,200 LED lights made by Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), according to a release by the lighting technology company
The company's LR24 recessed LED luminaires are planned for installation in Wedge 5 of the Pentagon as part of a major renovation currently underway.
The Pentagon recently installed preliminary LED fixtures to meter and analyze energy usage. Cree said independent analysis demonstrated a 22% reduction in energy usage and improved light quality.
The analysis indicated a payback period of less than four years, taking into consideration energy savings, lifetime maintenance savings, savings from reduced load on the HVAC system, and elimination of hazardous waste disposal fees for mercury-laden fluorescent bulbs.
The Wedge 5 installation is estimated to save 140 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
The LR24 units being used for the Pentagon renovation are being purchased from Cree by the Department of Defense's (DoD) Title III program as a part of its ongoing development program with Cree.
"The Title III program has long supported the development and deployment of SiC substrates and devices for use in high-power RF and power-switching applications for DoD systems," said John Palmour, Ph.D., Cree co-founder and chief technology officer for advanced devices. "The program realized the importance of ensuring a strong domestic supply of SiC substrates and related devices, and the potential growth of solid-state lighting in the U.S."
