Cree, Inc. announced its LEDs are featured in the new HD video screens recently installed in the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.
Home to both the Mavericks (NBA) and Stars (NHL), the American Airlines Arena is now equipped with Cree’s versatile 3-in-1 high-brightness LEDs that are delivering crystal-clear, high-definition images to fans throughout the arena.
Coast recently published a new article called Innovations in LED Lighting. The article explores the recent popularity of the LED, briefly examining the technology’s historic roots and speculating where it may lead us in the future.
As I read through the article, I was struck by the extremely long incubation period for LEDs. The technology sat virtually disregarded for close to 50 years before it was given due attention. After that, it still took another 50 years to develop the technology to be used in the way we see it today, when LEDs practically exploded onto the scene not even ten years ago.
The year has been a good one for LED technology — from new innovations to adopted policies — 2009 has been a banner year for the light-emitting diode. Take a look at the following list of achievements for LEDs.
LED Wallpaper — It’s exactly what you think it is.
Just thought we’d brighten your Thanksgiving day with a do-it-yourself LED turkey centerpiece, courtesy Sparkle Labs.
If something’s good enough for NASA, isn’t it good enough for you, too? I mean, if something can withstand the demands of space travel, it should stand to reason that it will thrive in your home. Well, then, it’s time to start the countdown for LEDs.
NASA recently announced its intention to partner with an LED manufacturer to work on implementing LED technology into the space program, specifically developing a “high illumination and good color rendering LED light fixture for space exploration.”
Starbucks Coffee Company recently announced its intention to implement LED technology into a large number of its locations worldwide. Under the banner of its LED Lighting Conversion Program, the coffee giant has initiated the conversion of incandescent and halogen bulbs to LEDs in all company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada, and has already completed installation in more than 1,000 U.S. locations, according to a company press release.
Furthermore, Starbucks will expand the program to international markets in March 2010, aiming to complete installation in more than 8,000 company-owned stores around the world by the end of 2010. Following global implementation, Starbucks projects a 7 percent per-store reduction in energy use. This improvement will contribute toward the company’s goal of achieving a 25 percent reduction in energy use by the end of 2010.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France is commemorating its 120-year existence with an LED light spectacular. Using 400 LED-based spotlights, one of the monument’s four facades, the Trocadero, will light up with “color, movement, and modulation offering a magical and awesome show.”
Locals and tourists will be able to observe the show every evening until December 31, 2009. Show times are scheduled for 8, 9, 10, and 11 p.m. every night.
In early June of 2009, the Marvel Food and Deli in Auburn, Washington opened its doors for the first time becoming the first commercial new construction in the U.S. to be outfitted exclusively with LEDs (light-emitting diodes). The new supermarket utilized LEDs for both the store interior and exterior lighting in the parking lot.
According to recent research within the supermarket industry, implementing LED technology is estimated to reduce energy consumption in stores by as much as 60 percent. Additionally, LEDs offer higher efficiency with little negative environmental impact. LEDs are proving to be vastly superior to fluorescent, MH (metal halide) and HPS (high pressure sodium) lighting; with an over 50,000+ hour lifetime, their longevity greatly reduces maintenance costs.
