by Brianna Crandall — February 14, 2014—Energy-efficient lighting provider Cree, Inc., introduces SmartCast Technology, which the company says is the first self-programming wireless lighting control system that reduces energy consumption by more than 70 percent, at half the cost of traditional lighting controls. Designed to be intuitive and easy to use, luminaires enabled with Cree SmartCast Technology reportedly remove the initial and ongoing complexity associated with lighting controls, allowing facilities managers and other end users to realize the full savings potential of lighting controls along with their full benefits.
“Commercial lighting customers have resisted installing traditional lighting controls because of excess cost and complexity, and the majority of those who have installed controls stop using them as intended after the first year because they’re difficult to maintain,” said Norbert Hiller, executive vice president, Lighting. “Cree SmartCast Technology eliminates these barriers to adoption and delivers the enormous benefit of significantly greater energy cost savings, allowing customers to finally realize the promise of lighting controls.”
Featuring Cree’s innovative OneButton Setup, luminaires enabled with SmartCast Technology create their own secure network, learn about their environment, and form groups to maximize savings, all with the push of a single button. SmartCast Technology eliminates additional design time, wires and set-up time often associated with controls systems to provide the simplest controls system available.
“Cree exceeded our expectations of what a lighting-controls system could provide,” said John Gardiner, facilities manager, LORD Corporation. “Without any extra devices or wires needed, our maintenance team spent only minutes installing the Cree CR22 architectural LED troffers with SmartCast Technology throughout our corporate headquarters, saving us thousands of dollars on programming and setup. The savings on energy consumption and maintenance costs we expect with this installation will be a huge benefit to our business.”
Cree SmartCast Technology is currently available in CR Series LED troffers, CS Series linear luminaires, and KR Series downlights, as well as via a 0-to-10-volt interface for control of existing dimmable LED luminaires. These critical features not only save users energy and money but are compliant with emerging code requirements throughout the United States and Canada, notes Cree. Cree SmartCast Technology is sold through Cree lighting sales channels throughout the United States and Canada.
North Carolina-based Cree is an innovator of lighting-class light-emitting diodes (LEDs), LED lighting and semiconductor products for power and radio-frequency (RF) applications around the world. Cree’s product families include energy-efficient, mercury-free LED fixtures and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and RF devices. Cree products are said to be driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, electronic signs and signals, power supplies and solar inverters.
