Press Releases

LLF Announces Rapid Market Adoption & New Product at IBS

February 14, 2008

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. and ORLANDO, FL – LED Lighting Fixtures (LLF), developer of the first and only commercially viable indoor lighting solution for general illumination from light emitting diode (LED) light sources, today announced that the company sold more than 50,000 LR6 retrofit modules – enough to light 2 million square feet of built environment – since the launch of the product last August.

LLF is currently selling its LR6 six-inch downlight through 65 lighting sales agents across the United States and Canada, which represent over 400 distributors for commercial and residential markets. Last fall, the world-leading performance of the LR6 was recognized as the grand prize winner in an award competition sponsored by the American Lighting Association and verified by tests in independent labs under the direction of the U.S. Department of Energy.

LLF is introducing its LR4 four-inch downlight and showcasing the LR6 at the International Builders’ Show Feb. 13-16 in Orlando, Fla. Visitors to the booth (S-10767 in the South Hall) will see a side-by-side comparison with conventional incandescent and compact fluorescent products.

LLF announced Feb. 8 that it has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Cree (NASDAQ: CREE), a market leader in LED solid-state lighting components. The LLF products are based on the combination of Cree’s lighting-class XLamp® LEDs and LLF’s patented color-mixing technology that produces both high efficiency and superior color quality. For more information about the Cree acquisition announcement, please refer to www.cree.com/press.

Superior Lighting Solution for Builders and Homeowners

With increasing competition for home sales, builders and communities are looking for ways to differentiate and have a competitive edge in the market. As the demand for sustainable materials in homes continues to increase, many buyers are investing in energy-efficient features that will ultimately save homeowners money for years to come.

Considering 33 percent of a household energy budget is attributed to lighting, LLF’s LED lighting offers substantial benefits for residential lighting. LLF’s lighting products use approximately 85 percent less energy and last up to 50 times longer than incandescent lights, and they use 50 percent less energy and last up to five times longer than compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). In addition, unlike LED lighting, CFLs contain toxic mercury. This makes CFLs a poor choice for homeowners and builders concerned about the environment.

Legislation is driving the implementation of energy-efficient technologies into the building industry, including Title-24 legislation in California. “Until recently my only option in installing a Title-24 compliant kitchen was to use fluorescent lighting. LLF’s LR6 arrived just in time to give me a viable alternative for exciting, energy-efficient, kitchen lighting solutions,” said Clayton Nelson, a certified kitchen designer and residential remodel contractor in the San Francisco Bay area. ”When I first introduced the idea of LED lighting to my client they were concerned about the higher cost of the LED fixtures. However, when I explained the actual lifetime cost of operation, the 20-year life expectancy, the dimmability, plus the excellent light quality they soon realized the advantages of the LR6 over inexpensive fluorescent fixtures. They have been thrilled with the results.”

World’s Best White LED Light

With its unique, patented discovery of the optimum color blending of LEDs, LLF’s products produce the world’s best white light. The building industry and homeowners are taking notice, and momentum and interest continues to grow rapidly. World leading brand names and institutions including Sheraton, McDonalds, Roche Laboratories and The Harvard Business School are already using the product, as well as the nation’s leading builders and many homeowners.

Previously, lighting products in the industry fell short in color, efficiency or longevity. LLF has created an LED lighting solution that leads the industry in a combination of all three critical elements.

Each component in LLF’s proprietary technology platform, from the LED to the fixture, is engineered to create the world’s leading combination of light color quality, light output, energy efficiency and affordability. The company’s broad expertise has led to an extensive patent portfolio of more than 150 patent applications on a broad range of lighting technology and designs.

“As consumers become more aware of the savings and benefits of energy-efficient lighting, it is important to offer them options besides fluorescent lighting. Not only do CFLs produce poor light quality but they contain mercury. CFLs are toxic and can be hazardous to the environment if disposed of improperly and can also pose a threat if they break within a household,” said Gary Trott, vice president of market development, LLF. “With an LLF lighting system there is no longer a need to sacrifice. LLF products have the color of incandescent bulbs and industry-leading efficacy without the harmful mercury.”


Media Contact: Kelly Hubbard, Largemouth Communications (for LLF), (919) 459-6453, kelly@largemouthpr.com