ALFRED, N.Y., Oct. 16, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq:CREE) announces that Alfred University has joined the Cree LED University(R) program, an international community of universities working to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient LED lighting across their campuses. As part of its ongoing green initiatives, Alfred University has installed LED lighting throughout its newest residence hall, "Ann's House." Officially opened for the Fall 2009 semester, the school's first environmentally friendly dormitory features more than 175 Cree LED lights and 18 LEDDynamics EverLED TR fluorescent tube replacements throughout the 15,000 square-foot hall.
"Ann's House was constructed as part of Alfred University's commitment to becoming a greener, more sustainable campus," explained Alfred University's President, Dr. Charles M. Edmondson. "Installing Cree LEDs throughout this new dormitory will provide our students with better visibility, as well as help Alfred University significantly save on energy and maintenance costs. The widespread use of LED lighting around our campus is certainly something we're looking at as we continue to find new ways to reduce our carbon footprint."
Designed to set a new standard in green construction for the Alfred University campus, Ann's House was designed to be certified at the Silver level or above by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. In addition to the energy-efficient LED and fluorescent fixtures that light the 48 student bedrooms, hallways, lounges and stair towers, Ann's House also features LED televisions, high efficiency boilers and instant hot water heaters, natural stone and cement composite siding and low VOC (volatile organic compound) materials used for flooring, paints and building materials. The building is equipped with solar panels to provide approximately 8% of the electrical demand during daylight hours.
"As an alumnus of Alfred University, it's incredibly gratifying to see the steps my alma mater is taking to become a more sustainable, eco-friendly campus," said John Edmond, Cree co-founder and director of advanced optoelectronics. "It's my hope that more campuses will look at Alfred University as an example of how to successfully use LED lighting to become more energy-efficient."
"LED lighting can be an effective way to help commercial buildings like Ann's House gain valuable LEED points," said Deb Lovig, Cree LED programs manager. "Joining Cree's LED University program makes Alfred University a model for other schools looking to deploy LED lighting."
Alfred University joins LED University participants North Carolina State University; Marquette University; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Arkansas; Madison Area Technical College; Joliet Junior College; Notre Dame; University of California, Davis; University of Miami; University of Alaska at Anchorage and Tianjin Polytechnic University in China in evaluating, promoting, and deploying LED lighting as they work toward increasing energy savings, protecting the environment, reducing maintenance costs, and providing better light quality for improved visibility and safety.
About Alfred University
Alfred University was founded in 1836 by liberal, independent thinkers who placed high value on education for all citizens. Today, the University has retained and built upon the strong values of its founders, developing as an institution of national and international renown that is responsive to the needs of contemporary society while remaining consistent with the spirit of its origins.
Alfred University is the second oldest co-educational college in the United States and one of the earliest nineteenth century colleges to have enrolled African American and Native American students. Over the course of the twentieth century, Alfred University evolved into a complex institution offering a full range of programs in the liberal arts and sciences, art and design, engineering, business, education, and school psychology.
About LED University
The LED University initiative is a growing international community of universities working to evaluate, deploy, and promote LED lighting across their campus intrastructures to save energy, protect the environment, reduce maintenance costs, and provide better light quality for improved visibility and safety.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 22 percent of electricity used in the U.S. powers lighting. In a world with soaring energy prices based on the availability and control of fossil fuels, and with growing concern about sustainability of the environment, a revolution in lighting is long overdue.
Details of each university's LED lighting pilots and installations are available on the LED University web site: www.leduniversity.org.
About Cree, Inc.
Cree, Inc. is leading the LED lighting revolution and setting the stage to obsolete the incandescent light bulb through the use of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly LED lighting. Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, LED lighting and semiconductor solutions for backlighting, wireless and power applications.
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For additional product and company information, please refer to www.cree.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors such as the possibility that actual savings may vary from expectations; the potential lack of customer acceptance of LED products; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Cree's products obsolete; and other factors discussed in Cree's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 28, 2009, and subsequent filings.
Cree and LED University are registered trademarks of Cree, Inc.