Cree Lighting Solutions, an LED manufacturer in Morrisville, N.C., has developed a new long-life recessed fixture that some builders and remodelers are calling the first practical LED. The LR6 consists of an LED light engine encased in a recycled aluminum housing. It screws into a standard 6” recessed light fixture and includes the exterior trim, making installation easy.

Although LEDs are still expensive, the cost is offset by their long estimated lifespan. What sells customers is the light quality. Cree justifies the price by claiming the LR6 will provide 50,000 hours of service- about 20 years if it's turned on for six hours per day. The LR6 uses 85 percent less energy than an incandescent. It lasts 20 times longer than an incandescent and five times longer than a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). The LR6 is also dimmable.

Of course, time will tell if the LR6 delivers the promised 50,000 hours of service, but Gary Trott, Cree’s vice president of product development, says the estimate is backed by extensive testing. He credits the results in large part to how the fixture manages heat. Heat is the enemy of an LED, and the key to increasing its service life is to keep it cool.

Trott estimates the monthly energy savings at $1 to $2 per fixture, which can add up in a home with a lot of fixtures. “It has to be sold by someone who understands all the benefits it provides when installed in the ceiling.”

Wolfers lighting experts are well-informed about Cree's LED LR6 fixture. For more information or to purchase this product, visit a Wolfers showroom or make an appointment with a lighting consultant today.

This issue features two Italian lighting fixtures: Niagara and Parure chandeliers.

Niagara Flush Mount

The Niagara Flush Mount, made in Italy and designed by Marzia Bandini & Massimo Sacconi, has a gold finish and a glass diffuser. The dimensions are 27 1/2" wide by 13 3/4" high, with maximum wattage of 3 x 150W, Medium Halogen T10.

Niagara’s subtly weaving, dynamic form is designed for innovative
sophisticated spaces.

Parure Chandelier

The Parure Chandelier, also made in Italy, has a gold / weathered brick finish and a glass diffuser. The dimensions are 35 7/16" wide by 23 5/8" high, with maximum wattage of 10 x 40W Halogen G9.

Parure’s delicately colored handmade floral glass and Swarovski Crystal accents produce a warm inviting atmosphere.

Lutron Working Display Model Shows True Energy Savings in Digital Form
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. has introduced an educational energy savings display that digitally shows customers how much energy they are saving as they dim the lights in a room. Featuring a working Skylark dimmer and a room photo that shows the visual effects of the control, the display provides a digital readout of light level, percentage of energy saved, and how long the bulb life will be extended—all according to the user’s manipulation of the dimmer. For more information: www.lutron.com/energy.

Incandescent Light Bulbs Will Not Disappear
Congress has recently set new standards for greater efficiency in lighting. It doesn’t matter what technology the light bulb makers use to get to reach the goals. The practical effect will be to phase out most of the incandescent bulbs that we know. In the coming years, you most likely will see manufacturers come out with next generation, efficient incandescent bulbs. These may end up being a transitional technology that will not meet the standards in the later years of the phase-out, when light-emitting diodes become more economical, but manufacturers are confident that these new standards are workable.