I’ve mentioned LED lighting before. Again, based on our reviews, most of the stuff you see on shelves in the stores right now (like the Lights of America bulbs at Costco) isn’t ready for prime time. The colors are ghastly, the light output is underwhelming, and the design is such that I doubt will lead to long lamp life (LED fixtures need a way to dissipate heat to work properly and to retain their life). You can try them in your garage or an outdoor fixture, but I wouldn’t buy too many of them.
CREE LED Lighting is a great choice for residential applications.
Having said that, I continue to be very impressed with the CREE’s LR6 lighting—enough to install it in multiple prominent locations in my own home. The2700K fixture is warm and very suited to a residential application. It’s bright, dimmable, and just plain looks good. It’s one of the few that has thus far earned the ENERGY STAR label. The 50,000 hour rating is certainly intriguing, too. Right now, CREE LEDs are only available as recessed fixtures—but it you’ve got recessed lighting, this just might be the ticket for you.
[Note--see review of the CREE CR6 posted on Dec 31, 2010.]
Thanks, Mike
Tags: CREE, Energy Star, energy-efficiency, green homes, GreenHomes, home energy, LED Light, LED lighting, review
September 25, 2009 at 7:40 am |
[...] replacements for regular Type A bulbs out there, but these aren’t ready for prime time. (As I’ve written, the CREE LED recessed lights are!) I’m confident these products will be ready within a few [...]
November 7, 2009 at 9:49 am |
[...] ready for sconce applications, they excel in recessed can fixtures. I’ve written on the CREE and HALO recessed can LEDs. Both are great choices today. In the case, the HALO fixtures were [...]
November 14, 2009 at 1:33 pm |
[...] hesitate to install it (in fact, I have installed it my own home). Right now, I do like the CREE product better, but part of that is personal preference. Some quick [...]
May 15, 2010 at 10:18 pm |
[...] doesn’t look as robust as CREE’s LR6 (see earlier review); however, it has very similar specs and a most more affordable price point. Stay [...]
June 17, 2010 at 11:16 am |
We’re big fans of CREE at energycircle.com, too. There are some other bulbs were testing now that we think are going to be winners: 2700K, great CRI an PAR-20 with the same lumens as the 50W halogen bulb it replaces. The price point is still on the high side, as with the CREE.
I remain concerned that other than a few outstanding manufacturers, the LED industry is going to shoot themselves in the foot (perhaps not as badly as the CFL industry did) by putting products to market that can only disappoint. I was in Home Depot yesterday and they’re selling a few medium base replacement bulbs.
The closest one to being practical is a 3000K R-20 producing 418 lumens using 11w, compared to a standard 50w halogen producing 550 lumens; the LED costs $50, the standard costs around $3. That’s probably justifiable on a lifetime basis since the LED is rated for 25,000 hours compared to around 2,500 for a standard bulb. Close from an ROI perspective, but if I replaced all 7 in my kitchen, that’s $350, and they are less bright, and not dimmable.
Next year? I hope!
October 13, 2010 at 3:05 pm |
[...] standard CFLs, it is also mercury free meaning it has no toxicity to you or the planet. Searching reviews of the light online, you can find many testimonies from satisfied customers touting the lighting appeal it adds to [...]
November 17, 2010 at 10:43 am |
Good info, worth finding out about, very nice web-site throughout, so cheers, should certainly bookmark.
December 31, 2010 at 11:13 am |
Thanks–check out the new review of the CR6, billed at the residential version of the LR6. Very nice. http://blog.greenhomesamerica.com/2010/12/31/cree-cr6-review-a-bright-spot-in-efficient-lighting/
January 1, 2011 at 12:05 pm |
[...] like the non-energy performance and appearance of the CR6 and LR6 better than the incandescent they replace. And some people letter “better” over [...]
July 11, 2011 at 4:53 pm |
[...] standard CFLs, it is also mercury free meaning it has no toxicity to you or the planet. Searching reviews of the light online, you can find many testimonies from satisfied customers touting the lighting appeal it adds to [...]