Cree has been trying to persuade customers worldwide to convert conventional lighting to that provided by light emitting diodes.
Now the LED and electronic chip manufacturer is following its own recommendations.
Cree (Nasdaq: CREE) said Thursday that it will convert all lighting at its headquarters and manufacturing facility to LEDs. Cree touts LEDs as an economical, more environmentally friendly alternative to other forms of illumination.
The process is already under way, with Cree XLamp model LEDs used for parking lot, entryway, lobby and conference room lighting.
"Conventional wisdom is that LED lighting is years away from widespread adoption,” said Chuck Swoboda, Cree’s chairman and chief executive officer. “The truth, however, is that the performance of Cree’s LED technology enables real LED lighting solutions today.
"The conversion of Cree’s site demonstrates that the LED Lighting Revolution is well under way and will illustrate the benefits in energy savings, maintenance costs and environmental impacts,” he added.
Cree recently generated international headlines when the Chinese Olympic Committee chose to illuminate the aquatic venue for next summer’s Olympics in Beijing with more than 400,000 LEDs.
The company also is working with the cities of Raleigh and Ann Arbor, Mich., on LED city efforts. Cree also is partnering with Duke Energy on an LED strategy.
Duke provides Cree with power at its Triangle operations. According to a study it conducted before making the decision to switch, Cree said LEDs would cut energy use by 48 percent compared with incandescent, fluorescent or high-pressure sodium lights.
Ted Schultz, vice president for energy efficiency at Duke, said the company is working to include LEDs in its energy-efficiency plans.
Cree also is launching a Web site focusing on LEDs in the workplace.
